M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams puts in maiden Australian appearance
by Gordon Arthur, Melbourne
The heaviest piece of equipment showcased at Land Forces 2024 was the M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams main battle tank, recently shipped from California to Australia. This freshly arrived tank, bearing the serial number ‘277002’, travelled from the port to the exhibition centre. It featured a Kongsberg CROWS-Low Profile weapon station, marking the first time Australian Abrams commanders could operate a machine gun from within the safety of the tank’s armoured protection. The initial delivery to Australia reportedly includes 27 of these tanks.
While the featured Abrams lacked the Trophy active protection system (APS), it is designed to accommodate future installations of Rafael’s system. Lt. Gen. Simon Stuart, Chief of the Army, confirmed this during a recent update. Notably, these tanks combine newly built turrets with refurbished hulls, a strategic decision by the Australian Army. Weighing in at 66 tonnes when fully loaded for combat, the M1A2 SEPv3 is around five tonnes heavier than the previously operated M1A1 AIM tanks, largely due to enhanced armour protection. In fact, the exhibition floor beneath the tank had to be specially reinforced to support its weight.
Australia is acquiring 75 M1A2 SEPv3 tanks through Project Land 907, a combined effort that integrates Phase 2 of Project Land 907 (Abrams tanks) and Phase 1 of Project Land 8160. The latter includes 29 M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles (ABV), 17 M1074 Joint Assault Bridges (JAB), and six additional M88A2 armoured recovery vehicles. These advanced armoured units will primarily serve the 2nd Cavalry Regiment of the 3rd Brigade, based in Townsville, following a recent army-wide restructure focusing heavy armour within this brigade, as outlined in last year’s Defence Strategic Review.
Later this year, the new Abrams tanks will be delivered to the School of Armour in Puckapunyal, with deployments to Townsville planned for 2025. The ABVs and JABs are scheduled to arrive at the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment starting around March 2025. Additionally, six more M88A2 HERCULES recovery vehicles from BAE Systems will join Australia’s fleet, bringing the total number of these support vehicles to 19.
Despite growing concerns about the relevance of main battle tanks in modern warfare, where antitank missiles and loitering munitions are becoming more common, the Australian Army maintains that the M1A2 SEPv3 remains a critical asset. The army describes the tank as “highly lethal, survivable, networked, and manoeuvrable,” with capabilities that no other platform can match in terms of firepower, protection, mobility, and situational awareness.
Picture by Gordon Arthur
