General Dynamics Land Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
Under the M1A1 SA program, the main battle tanks are completely disassembled and overhauled to a like-new, zero-mile condition. Refurbished tanks incur lower operational and support costs and report higher operational readiness rates. M1A1s are configured with armor upgrades and additional mission-critical technologies to bolster crew situational awareness.
Deliveries will begin in January 2017 and the estimated completion date is February 2018. Work will be performed by existing employees in Anniston, Ala. and Lima, Ohio.
Highly mobile, designed for modern armored ground warfare, the M1 Abrans is well armed and heavily armored. Notable features include the use of a powerful multi-fuel turbine engine, the adoption of sophisticated composite armor, and separate ammunition storage in a blow-out compartment for crew safety. Weighing nearly 68 short tons (almost 62 metric tons), it is one of the heaviest main battle tanks in service.
The M1 Abrams is in use in four Arab countries, including:
- Egyptian Army: 1,005 M1A1 tanks co-produced by the U.S. and Egypt for the Egyptian army. Another 200 tanks have been ordered.
- Iraqi Army: 140 M1A1Ms (without depleted uranium layers in armor). Iraq was leasing 22 U.S. Army M1A1s for training in 2008. The first 11 tanks were delivered to the Iraqi Army in August 2010. All were delivered by August 2011. In October 2012, it was reported that six more tanks were being delivered.
- Kuwaiti Army: 218 M1A2s (without depleted uranium layers in armor)
- Saudi Arabian Army: 373 Abrams tanks, to be upgraded to M1A2S configuration in Saudi Arabia. 69 more M1A2S tanks ordered on 8 January 2013, to be delivered by 31 July 2014.
