Asia PacificLand

First Australian Soldiers Complete Abrams M1A2 Operations, Sustainment Training

The Australian Army has completed the first operations and sustainment training in preparation for the service’s upcoming Abrams M1A2 main battle tanks.

The effort’s implementation followed Canberra’s order of 75 Abrams from the US in 2022, 46 of which have already been delivered.

About 14 of the platforms are expected to be delivered to the Townsville-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment later this year.

Additional training for the latest tranche will begin in early 2025.

“These new main battle tanks are an essential part of our combined arms fighting system,” Australian Army Land Capability Head Maj. Gen. Richard Vagg stated. “They will enable land forces to control key strategic land positions, enabling long-range strike as part of the integrated force.”

“There is no other capability on the battlefield that can provide this level of protection, accurate and lethal fire, and cross-terrain mobility.”

“They will give our soldiers the best probability of mission success and of coming home safely.”

Maintenance Ready

According to the army, the latest armored fleet will be supported by both existing infrastructure and new maintenance solutions that the government will invest in for the future.

Related services will be established near points where the tracked vehicles will operate, including Puckapunyal and Bandiana in Victoria, and Townsville in Queensland.

“The new main battle tanks will require a range of sub-system and component maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities,” Australian Army Land Systems Head Maj. Gen. Jason Blain explained.

“Army will also use simulation training systems being delivered by Defence industry partners, including Thomas Global Systems Australia and Thales Australia, based in New South Wales, and Universal Motion Simulation, based in Victoria.”

An Australian M1A2 SEP v3 Main Battle Tank fires a sabot round during a live fire to confirm the aiming system of the tank and to qualify crews on the new systems at the Puckapunyal Military Area, Victoria, 05 November 2024. *** Local Caption *** Army’s combined arms fighting system will be modernised through the delivery of LAND 907. LAND 907 will deliver M1A2 Abrams System Enhancement Package version 3 (SEPv3) main battle tanks (MBTs). LAND 907 will also deliver the assault breacher vehicle (ABV) and joint assault bridge (JAB) collectively known as the combat engineering vehicles (CEV). The MBT and CEV are manufactured in the United States of America in Alabama, Ohio and Missouri before being shipped to Australia from the United States of America. The initial block of MBT, comprising 27 vehicles, departed the US in late June and arrived in Australia in August 2024. The initial block of CEV will also be shipped to Australia, arriving in 2025. In accordance with outcomes of the 2024 National Defence Strategy, the MBT and CEV will be located in Townsville as part of the 3rd Brigade’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment and 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment respectively, with small fleets located in Puckapunyal and Wodonga.
An Australian M1A2 SEP v3 Main Battle Tank fires a sabot round during a live fire test at Puckapunyal Military Area. Photo: Cpl Michael Currie/Australian Army

Landing Craft Training

In January 2024, the Australian Department of Defence began the 18-month operations training for the military’s future littoral maneuver fleet.

These systems will include medium to heavy landing craft that will support the transport of up to six Abrams tanks in the theater.

Delivery of the platforms will run from 2027 to 2028

Related Articles

Back to top button