This is a discussion on 140 M1A1 SA tanks for Iraq At Last within the Army & Security Forces forum, part of the Global Defense & Military category; 18:15 GMT, March 11, 2009 STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. | General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: ...
18:15 GMT, March 11, 2009 STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. | General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a contract worth $33 million to purchase long-lead materials for the production of 140 M1A1 SA (Situational Awareness) tanks for the Iraq program.
The SA enhancements to the M1A1 for Iraq include a second generation FLIR thermal site, Tank Urban Survivability (TUSK) enhancements and a driver's vision-enhancing thermal viewer. The tanks will also be equipped with the TIGER engine, the Pulse Jet System, and embedded diagnostics. The TIGER engine has a monitoring system that is able to identify and alert the crew if there are potential issues with the tank.
The 140 tanks will be manufactured in Lima, Ohio, by existing General Dynamics employees.
1-Tank Urban Survivability Kit (TUSK)
The field-installed kit includes armor upgrades to the rear and bottom of the hull; an installation of slat armor to protect the engine compartment and use of appliqué reactive armor tiles to improve flank protection. A CROWS remote controlled weapon station (RWS) mounting a .50 caliber machine gun is replacing the commander's 0.5" cupola mounted heavy machine gun, enabling the commander to operate the weapon when "buttoned up" under closed hatches. RWS is provided only for M-1A2 TUSK sets. The M-1A1s will be fitted with a thermal sight coupled with remote- viewing and firing capability.
The TUSK kit includes a bolt on armored gun shield attached to the M240 (7.62mm) external machine gun, which will help to protect the loader when he is in the open-hatch firing position. When "buttoned up" the loader will be able to use the weapon from inside, aiming it via a thermal sight which projects the target image into a pair of goggles. A tank-infantry phone linked to the tank's intercom will also be added to improve connectivity with supporting forces.
On August 29, 2006 General Dynamics Land Systems received a US Army order for 505 Tank Urban Survivability Kits (TUSK) for Abrams main battle tanks supporting operations in Iraq, under a US$45 million contract. The add-on kit will be provided for M1A1 and M1A2-series tanks to enhance crew survivability in urban environments. The kit ordered by the Army consists of a Loader's Armor Gun Shield (LAGS), a Tank Infantry Phone (TIP), Abrams Reactive Armor Tiles (ARAT), a Remote Thermal Sight (RTS) and a Power Distribution Box (PDB). Deliveries are expected to be complete by April 2009.
Under a separate order, the US Army awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products (GDATP) US$30 million to produce reactive armor kits to equip M-1A2. The total contract value could reach $59 million if all contract options are exercised. The reactive tiles for the M-1 will be locally produced at GDATP's Burlington Technology Center. Tiles will be produced at the company's reactive armor facility in Stone County Operations, McHenry, Miss. On December 8th 2006 the U.S. Army added Counter Improvised Explosive Device enhancements to the M1A1 and M1A2 TUSK, awarding GDLS U.S. $11.3 million, part of the $59 million package mentioned above. In December GDLS also received an order amounting about 40% of a US$48 million order for loader's thermal weapon sights being part of the TUSK system improvements for the M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams Tanks.
( I hope that the Men in the Forum bring info on : second generation FLIR thermal site , vision-enhancing thermal viewer , TIGER engine, the Pulse Jet System .
Can't be that bad with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Egypt (and Australia...) already having them...
What should happen?
They cannot get any dangerous secrets out of it (which are not already compromised anyway).
And if the US ever decides to go in again the Abrams are not going to be safe from Maveriks, Hellfires and LGBs.
The tiger engine is at the present time a overhaul system in place for the AGT1500 engine currently be fielded on the M1 series vehicles. We call it Total integrated engine revitalization program. This will consist of better logistical support and engine components from Honeywell, we currently are getting approximately 700 hours out of each engine and with the new program in place we should more than double the operating hours, some of our allies have also signed on to this new deal as what can be seen inregards to Iraq who will also benefit from this program. Overhaul and support is the first phase with the second phase hopefully being that we will replace the AGT1500 with the new LV100-5, this is a outstanding engine pact that operates on 40% less engine parts, improve on reduction of fuel loss when engine is at idle by as much as 50% thus giving us a additional approximate 70 miles per tank operating range. The engine swap will not cause alot of modifications to the current engine pact bay configuration. Our new tiger program will extend the use of M1 series currently in U.S inventory by at least the year 2027.
I should also point out that the Australian tank is different in some areas over other M1 series users.
________________
"Here, across death`s other river
The Tartar horsemen shake their spears"
they think that The Islam is Jihad Company for God Damn
OK.
Please point out the part of my sentence in which I have offended Islam. If you can't, please stop acting like a drama queen.
I was talking about Iraq - your country - SPECIFICALLY. And NOT the whole Islamic world. Get it?
My describing Iraq as an "Islamic state" is incorrect, so I take that back with apologies.
The other part of my statement describes Iraq as "unstable". Is that also incorrect?
Unless you have a very different interpretation of the word "unstable" (or a very elastic tolerance) I would say that Iraq is still a very unstable country. No?
If I were to rephrase my sentence, it would read:
"Isn't it dangerous to sell weapons to an unstable country with lots of armed Islamic Jihadist insurgents running around...? Or am I just paranoid?"
EDIT: I just realised I was replying to a member already banned.
Last edited by Chino; March 15th, 2009 at 11:20 AM.
Can't be that bad with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Egypt (and Australia...) already having them...
What should happen?
They cannot get any dangerous secrets out of it (which are not already compromised anyway).
And if the US ever decides to go in again the Abrams are not going to be safe from Maveriks, Hellfires and LGBs.
Why not save the Mavericks and Hellfires etc by NOT selling them the Abrams in the first place?
Am I the only one whom has doubts if the new Iraqi government can survive the departure of US troops?
After the Russians withdrew from Afghanistan and the expected collapse of the Russian-backed (and armed) Kabul government, didn't all the tanks and weapons ended with the Talibans? or was I mistaken?
They won't survive if the US leaves them defenceless with Iran across the border.
That's one way of looking at it.
But this means you cannot stop at just selling them M1A1s. You would have to re-equip their entire military including navy and air force.
Do you really want to sell a previously hostile nation - with a young, unstable and inexperienced government - F16s etc?
The more sensible way is to guarantee its sovereignty against foreign invasion. Leave the Iraqi military well-equipped enough to deal with the insurgents. But if say Iran invades, US will come to its aid.
I mentioned Afghanistan where everything went belly-up with the Taliban eventually taking over all the Russian-supplied equipment. Do you feel that such a scenario is too remote for Iraq?
Why not save the Mavericks and Hellfires etc by NOT selling them the Abrams in the first place?
Am I the only one whom has doubts if the new Iraqi government can survive the departure of US troops?
After the Russians withdrew from Afghanistan and the expected collapse of the Russian-backed (and armed) Kabul government, didn't all the tanks and weapons ended with the Talibans? or was I mistaken?
The technology going into this deal is not a show stopper if they were to eventually fall into the wrong hands, if not the M1 series they will go for something different, maybe with the likes of Leclercs which the French government will sell just to name one tank supplier more than willing to give them vehicles.
________________
"Here, across death`s other river
The Tartar horsemen shake their spears"
EDIT: I just realised I was replying to a member already banned.
Thank goodness you realised.... Growing old eh friend (BTW, Almaleki is away on holiday from posting for 1 month)?
IMHO, since the fall of the Shah, everybody now knows that you can't hope to share power with a fundamentalist group. Save for Gaza (which exist in a different space time continuum and due to special local conditions), most 'peoples' (even countries with Muslim majorities) are not so keen to support these fundamentalist groups... Hence, I' not so worried about Iraq becoming an 'Islamic' state. But I am worried that the insurgency will carry on and on. In that case, not to sell tanks to give the Iraqi army the necessary tools to fight the insurgency is also a problem...
Last edited by OPSSG; March 16th, 2009 at 03:34 PM.
) already having them... 
