First brigade of M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams MBTs delivered soon.

Production is ramping up at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center located at Lima, Ohio, as the tank plant prepares to deliver the first brigade of M1A2 SEP V3 Abrams main battle tanks to the U.S. Army, Mackenzi Klemann reports on LimaOhio. Plant manager Hank Kennedy expects the brigade to be ready for the U.S. Army sometime this summer.

M1A2 SEP V3 Abrams (Picture source: Army Recognition)

“We’re in the throes of getting that together,” Kennedy said. He explained the “first brigade is critical because we need to get (them) into the soldiers’ hands so they can get trained on it and everything else.”

The M1A2 SEPV3 (System Enhanced Package) is a modernized version of the M1A2 SEPV V2 main battle tank which has a number of upgrades in the areas of survivability, maintainability, full efficiency and network capability. In October 2015, the M1A2 SEP V3 was presented for the first time at AUSA defense exhibition in Washington D.C. In response to the U.S. Army requirements for 2014-2024, the Abrams’ lethality must continue to be improved. This improvement in lethality for the Abrams M1A2 SEP V3 derives from the combination of developmental upgrades and the addition of mature technologies that include the Ammunition DataLink (ADL), improved 120mm ammunition, Improved Forward-Looking Infrared (IFLIR) and the low-profile (LP) Common Remotely Operated Weapon System (CROWS). It's relatively easy to recognize the M1A2 SEP v3 because, at the rear left, there is a small exhaust for the new under armor generator. In September 2018, it was announced that the M1A2 SEPv3 and M1A2 SEP V4 variants were being renamed as M1A2C and M1A2D. The change was outlined in an August 15, 2018, memo from Maj.Gen. Brian Cummings.