Army Analyzes Next-Generation Abrams Tanks for 2030 with the AbamsX

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

(Washington D.C.) The Army may have yet to determine specifics or its particular future plan for tank-like “heavy armor” and the emerging concepts for its “Optionally Manned Tank” program, there does appear to be widespread consensus that the Abrams tank is not likely to go anywhere soon … at least not in the immediate years.

Abrams Tanks

The Abrams has in recent years received so many paradigm-changing upgrades that the platform is essentially an entirely new weapons system when compared with its inception years ago. Today’s v3 Abrams and the emerging v4 variant are engineered with a new generation of Forward-Looking-Infrared FLIR targeting thermal sights, ammunition data links, on-board computing, networking and electricity generation along with an ability to operate unmanned systems and fire new, highly efficient Advanced Multi-Purpose Ammunition. These v3 and v4 Abrams are complimented, one might say, by the Army’s now conceptual Optionally Manned Tank program, a developmental effort now exploring future tank or “tank-like” platform concepts expected to surge into a new phase as soon as this year, Senior Army weapon developers have said.

Manned-unmanned teaming, fortified by autonomy and AI-enabled computing and networking are likely central concepts being woven into thinking for the Army’s OMT as well as its upgraded Abrams, as they will likely work in tandem with one another as part of newer Combined Arms Maneuver applications. These are all likely reasons why General Dynamics Land Systems recently unveiled its new AbramsX tank variant, a next-generation main-battle-tank built with yet another generation of enhancements. GDLS revealed its AbramsX last Fall at the 2022 Association of the United States Army Annual Symposium as an offering or vehicle for the Army to consider.

Abrams X

How might the AbramsX build upon armored vehicle and tank innovations? GDLS developers have explained a number of key elements to this, including an unmanned turret, ability to launch drones, fire course-correcting ammunition, operate 360-degree thermal sites, evolving AI-enabled command and control capability and new generations of sensor data processing and integration.

The AbramsX is a 60-ton offering designed to be a little faster, more mobile and more expeditionary than the existing Abrams, something which could massively improve its ability to cross bridges, enter strategically vital passageways and perhaps keep pace with maneuvering infantry and lighter-vehicles on the move. The lighter weight offering also appears to address ongoing Army concerns about Abram tank weight, referring to the extent to which its 70-ton weight could limit the platform’s mobility and deployability to a certain extent. 

While the 70-ton Abrams tanks continue to appear extremely relevant and critical, a 60-ton Abrams such as the “X” would introduce some key advantages for next-generation combat formations. How was 60-tons achieved without compromise the kind of survivability and protection implicitly vital to the Abrams tank? The specifics here may not be fully known for proprietary or security reasons, yet GDLS developers discuss their emphasis upon “innovation,” meaning efforts to conduct out-of-the-box next generation research and study to uncover new impactful technologies and areas of “breakthrough” or “disruptive” discoverings.