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Poland’s 1st Armoured Brigade Fires M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 Tanks in First Live-Fire Drill with U.S. Army.
Poland’s 1st Armoured Brigade has completed its first live-fire training using M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tanks at the Drawsko Pomorskie training area, alongside U.S. Army soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division. The exercise marks a key milestone in Poland’s effort to rapidly field advanced heavy armor as part of NATO’s forward defense posture.
Poland’s 1st Armoured Brigade has conducted its first live-fire exercise with M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tanks at the Drawsko Pomorskie training area, as part of a joint Polish–American gunnery event involving U.S. soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division. The activity, officially confirmed by the Polish General Command of the Armed Forces, represents the first time crews from the 1st Armoured Brigade have fired live ammunition using the SEPv3 variant of the Abrams, marking a significant step in the operational introduction of the tank into Polish service.
Poland’s 1st Armoured Brigade has taken a major step toward full combat readiness by conducting its first live-fire training with M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tanks alongside U.S. Army forces at the Drawsko Pomorskie training area (Picture Source: Polish 1st Armoured Brigade and the General Command of the Armed Forces)
The live-fire exercise took place on the Drawsko Pomorskie range and was conducted as a combined event rather than a purely national qualification. Polish and U.S. tank crews operated side by side, taking advantage of the scale and infrastructure of the training area to carry out realistic gunnery under live-fire conditions. The event was observed and attended by the deputy commander of the U.S. Army’s V Corps, Major General Maciej Jabłoński, highlighting the importance attached to this milestone by both partners.
For the Polish crews, the exercise provided an opportunity to apply procedures learned during earlier familiarisation and training phases to the Abrams SEPv3 in an operational environment. U.S. elements from the 1st Infantry Division acted as an experienced partner formation, contributing to the conduct of the firing while allowing both armies to rehearse safety procedures, command relationships and communications within a mixed formation. This aspect of the exercise reflects the emphasis placed on interoperability and readiness for combined operations under NATO command.
The first live firing by a Polish line brigade confirms that the Abrams programme in Poland is moving beyond delivery and initial training and into operational-level employment. Poland has ordered 250 M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tanks from the United States as part of a rapid armoured modernisation effort launched after the transfer of large numbers of legacy tanks to Ukraine. The appearance of the SEPv3 in frontline units such as the 1st Armoured Brigade indicates that the programme is now generating deployable combat capability rather than remaining confined to training centres.
The SEPv3 configuration of the Abrams features a modernised digital architecture, improved thermal sights and fire-control systems, and enhanced integration with contemporary command-and-control networks, while retaining the 120 mm smoothbore main gun. Conducting live-fire training at Drawsko Pomorskie allows Polish crews to exploit these capabilities under conditions representative of the terrain and climate likely to be encountered in Poland and elsewhere on NATO’s eastern flank. Joint execution with U.S. forces also helps align tactical procedures and gunnery standards from the outset.
Beyond its immediate training value, the exercise carries a broader strategic dimension. Joint live-fire activities involving Polish-operated Abrams tanks and U.S. armoured units reinforce NATO’s posture in Eastern Europe and signal a high level of cohesion between allies. As underlined by the Polish General Command, such training directly contributes to improved interoperability and combat readiness, ensuring that newly acquired systems are rapidly transformed into usable and integrated military capability.
This first live firing of the M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 by the 1st Armoured Brigade therefore stands as both a practical and symbolic milestone. It confirms the transition of Poland’s Abrams fleet into operational service and illustrates how armoured modernisation is being embedded from the outset within allied training and command structures.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.