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