Abrams M-1A1 AIM

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The AIM process is a joint effort to refurbish M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks and involves the U.S. Army Project Manager for Heavy Brigade Combat Team, TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, Anniston (Ala.) Army Depot and General Dynamics Land Systems. Under the AIM process, M1A1 Abrams 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.

The M1A1 AIM tanks will be configured with additional mission-critical technologies to bolster crew situational awareness (SA). The SA package improvements include second-generation Forward-Looking Infrared, Far Target Locate, Blue Force Tracking (BFT)/Force Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2), a tank-infantry phone, a .50 caliber thermal sight, a power distribution box, a rear slave receptacle, an eye-safe laser rangefinder and driver’s vision enhancement. This situational awareness package increases the M1A1 Abrams tank’s fighting capability by providing soldiers with an electronic graphic of the battlefield with icons for friendly and enemy forces, and provides a tank commander’s thermal sight for the .50 caliber machine gun.
The tanks are scheduled for delivery to the Army beginning in July 2008 and continuing through October 2010.

M1A2 tank – Specifications
Weight: 69.54 tons
Length (gun forward): 287″
Turret height: 93.5″
Width: 144″
Ground clearance: 19″
Ground pressure: 15.4 psi
Crew: 4
Power: Gas turbine engine, 1,500 hp
Power/weight ratio: 21.6 hp/ton
Hydro-kinetic transmission: 4 F / 2 R
M1A2 Tank – Basic performance
Maximum Speed (governed) 42 mph
Cross-country speed: 30 mph
10% slope: 17 mph
60% slope: 4.1 mph
Acceleration (0-32 mph): 7 seconds
Cruising range: 265 miles
Vertical obstacle: 42″
Trench crossing: 9 feet
NBC System 200 SCFM-clean cooled air
Auxiliary power unit: 25,600 BTU/hr cooling, 6kw electrical, 14 kw hydraulic
M1A2 Tank – Armmament
Main armament: 120mm XM256 smooth bore cannon
Coaxial gun: 7.62 M240 machinegun on skate mount
Commander’s weapon: 0.50 cal. M2HB