I suppose the real question is…how many M1E3s are actually needed? How many 60-ton M1E3 tanks are actually needed? What is the drive in survivability for the M1E3 to make it so desired to produce? Is the M1E3 going to be a “Silver Bullet” rarity, or will this really replace the M1A2SEP1s and SEP2s?
Personally, I think that the 42-ton M10 Booker is needed more than the 60-ton M1E3. It’s political by the SECDEF. Forget giving the M10 Booker to the 82nd Airborne and 101st Air Assault forces…give them to the U.S. Army’s Armored Calvary and Light Infantry Forces to bypass the issues that the M10 is too heavy for the bridges on the Airborne units’ bases.
My view is that the M1E3’s RWS is unique: Javelin ATGM, 40mm Mark 19 automatic grenade launcher, and 7.62mm M240…however, the RWS can be mounted on an AMPV or another (autonomous) vehicle so it doesn’t have to be unique to the M1E3. That just leaves the unmanned M1E3 turret, the diesel engine, and the crew sitting in the hull as the unique M1E3 features, and yet how many M1A2SEPs were threatened in the Chobham turret face that caused a loss of the crew? The M1A2SEPs aren’t the vintage M1A1s gifted to Ukraine.
The SECDEF wants the M1E3 and the XM-30 Bradley replacement and cancelled the JLTV, AMPV, M109 SPH, and the Remote Combat Vehicle (RCV), but I don’t want to get into a political flamewar over his decision. The M109s and AMPVs are still being produced, but I haven’t seen much news about the JLTV and RCV continuing production with the US Army. I think the JLTV is still being produced for the US Army until the contract runs out of money, but I’m not sure.
Finally, ARMY USA 2026 exposition is over and I haven’t seen any mention or new photos of the AbramsX or the M1E3 on social media so I don’t know what exactly is happening.