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.
Perhaps the means lighter weight composites, which are already being integrated in several key places across the force? Perhaps the sensors are even high resolution, longer-range and precise than even the Abrams v4? Perhaps most of all, the Abrams X is being engineered with an ability to launch and operate “attack” drones while on the move in combat, something which naturally massively expands lethality, forward surveillance and multi-domain, AI-enabled, networked target data identification and distribution.
The AbramsX is also hybrid-electric, something which expands operational capacity in a number of respects. By increasing fuel efficiency, a hybrid-electric propulsion system reduced the need for a heavy logistic trail transporting massive amounts of fuel, something which can slow down advancing forces and also place more vulnerable sustainment and logistical forces at risk of attack.
General Dynamics Land Systems
Also, an ability to control unmanned systems meet an interest or emerging operational requirements envisioned by the Army, which is to engineer a robotic “ammo” carrying platform able to bring supplies, ammunition and fuel into high-risk, forward locations without placing manned crews at risk. Hybrid electric propulsion also enables “silent watch,” meaning the vehicles can operate at a forward location without emitting a thermal or acoustic signature which might give away their position to an enemy. Essentially, silent watch allows the sensors and electronics to operate without an acoustic or thermal signature generating from an engine.
GDLS is also working with partners to build a “hemispheric” Active Protection System into the tank designed to detect, track and intercept or destroy incoming RPGs and Anti-Tank Guided Missiles. APS systems work with a sensor, computer processor and fire control system to track an approaching threat and shoot out an “interceptor” capable of destroying an incoming enemy round. Interestingly, the GDLS APS is built with an ability to protect the tank from top-down anti-armor attacks. While hemispheric APS has always been an ongoing goal for armored vehicles, events in Ukraine undoubtedly influenced or informed GDLS APS, as Ukrainians had great success destroying Russian tanks by firing top-down missile attacks at the more vulnerable “top” part of a tank.
All of these innovations, GDLS developers say, is in large measure being brought to fruition through its use of an IP protocol it refers to as “Katalyst,” a technical configuration designed to use open standards to enable or accommodate the addition and integration of new technologies as they emerge. With “Katalyst,” GDLS and Army developers will be able to use software upgrades to improve sensing resolutions, targeting precision and on-board command and control systems. Katalyst can also support “interfaces” using common, interoperable standards to support information sharing both on the vehicle and among other players throughout multiple domains.
Kris Osborn is the Military Editor of 19 Forty Five and President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has
also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
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