An M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tanks displays the American flag during exercises in Bulgaria, Sept. 27, 2025. The Army is speeding up the development of its new battle tank, the M1E3, designed to be lighter, faster and more survivable — reflecting lessons from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (Brian Sutherland/U.S. Army)
The U.S. Army is fast-tracking a new main battle tank, the M1E3, designed to be lighter, faster and more survivable — reflecting lessons from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
General Dynamics Land Systems received a $150 million contract in July for initial development of the tank at its Sterling Heights, Mich., facility. An Army Science Board report this year projected the M1E3 would take seven years and $2.9 billion to develop.
Four prototypes are expected by next year to be deployed with as yet undetermined Army units for testing.
The Army has set a 2030 target date for deployment, but General Dynamics officials said Wednesday that an early prototype is expected by year’s end, with full production potentially starting by 2027 or 2028.
The M1E3 replaces the canceled M1A2 SEPv4 as the Army’s planned future main battle tank, succeeding the M1 Abrams, which has been the Army’s main battle tank since it replaced the M60 Patton about half a century ago.
The new tank would counter Russia’s T-90 and China’s Type T-99 tanks.
Maj. Gen. Glenn Dean, head of Army ground combat systems, said the Ukraine war revealed critical flaws in traditional tank design, emphasizing the need for better crew protection over simply adding more armor.
The Army said it had studied intelligence from the war in Ukraine, which showed main battle tanks are vulnerable to attacks from above by drones striking at crew turret hatches and engine compartments.
The M1A2 SEPv4’s 73-ton frame couldn’t be upgraded without heavier armor that would compromise mobility and logistics and shorten combat range because of extra fuel consumption.
The M1E3 will feature a three-person crew and an automated turret and loading system, and it will retain the Abrams’ 120mm smooth-bore gun. The Iron Fist active protection system developed by Israel will detect and intercept incoming threats, using jamming and counter-projectiles to deflect or cause the munitions to explode before striking the M1-E3.
Powered by a hybrid diesel-electric engine, the M1E3 will have a greater range and speed than the Abrams, which is powered by a gas-turbine engine.
The M1E3 will weigh about 60 tons — about 7 tons lighter than the M1A2 Abrams and 13 tons lighter than the proposed M1A2 SEPv4, allowing for better traction, mobility and a reduced electromagnetic signature on the battlefield.
A Remote Weapons Station, designed to engage drones, will allow crew members to fire .50-caliber secondary weapons without becoming exposed.
The Army has said it could also arm the new tanks with its own drones, such as the AeroVironment Switchblade, designed for tactical precision strikes and reconnaissance.
The new tank’s systems would also be able to network communications and countermeasures with other tanks and troops to coordinate assaults and buttress defensive positioning. Modular systems will allow for quick repairs and upgrades in the field.
Development of the Abrams tank began in 1971 and deliveries to the Army began in 1980. The original M1A1 variant led the armor pincer attacks into Iraqi-occupied Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The updated M1A2 entered service in the mid-1990s.
Abrams variants are used by allies including Australia, Poland, Egypt, and Taiwan. In 2023, the U.S. sent 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine.
Other allied tanks include Germany’s Leopard 2, Britain’s Challenger 2, France’s LeClerc, South Korea’s K2 Black Panther, and Israel’s Merkava Mk. 4.
