The M1 Abrams is a third-generation American ๐บ๐ธ main ๐ฟ battle ๐ฅ tank ๐ designed ๐ by Chrysler Defense ๐ก (now General ๐ Dynamics ๐ฏ Land ๐ฌ Systems).[9] Conceived ๐ for modern ๐ธ armored ๐๐ ground ๐ซ warfare ๐ซ and now one โ of the heaviest ๐ฏ tanks โฝ in service ๐ฃ at nearly ๐ฃ 68 short ๐ธ tons ๐ (almost ๐ธ 62 ๐ metric ๐๐ฆ tons ๐), it introduced ๐๐ several ๐ฏ innovative ๐ฉ features ๐งฌ, including ๐ a multifuel turbine โ engine ๐, sophisticated ๐๐๐ Chobham composite armor ๐ช, a computer ๐ป๐พ fire ๐ฅ control ๐ฎ system โ, separate โ ammunition storage ๐ฌ in a blow-out compartment, and NBC protection ๐ for crew ๐ฌ safety ๐ท๐ป๐. Initial ๐ฐ models ๐ง of the M1 were armed ๐ช๐ซ with a licensed-produced 105 ๐ mm ๐ฅด๐คค Royal ๐ Ordnance L7 gun ๐ซ, while later ๐ variants โ feature ๐ง a licensed Rheinmetall 120 โค๐ป mm ๐ฅ L/44. The M1 Abrams was developed ๐ from the failure โ of the MBT-70 project ๐ท to replace ๐ฐ๐ the obsolescent M60 Patton. There are three 3๏ธโฃ main ๐ฟ operational Abrams versions โน, the M1, M1A1, and M1A2, with each new ๐ iteration โคต seeing ๐ improvements โฌ in armament ๐ฆ๐ช๐, protection ๐ก, and electronics ๐บ. Efforts ๐ฉ๐ง to develop ๐ฉโ๐ป an M1A3 version ๐ผ were first ๐ฅ publicly ๐๐๐ฆ disclosed in 2009.[10][needs update ๐จ] Extensive ๐ improvements ๐ have been implemented ๐ง to the latest โฐ๐โฑ M1A2C and D (formerly designated M1A2 System โ Enhancement ๐ Package ๐ฆ version ๐ผ 3 โญโน๐ or SEPv3 and M1A2 SEPv4, respectively ๐๐คค) versions โน such as improved โ composite armor ๐ช, better ๐ optics, digital ๐ง๐ฟ systems ๐บ and ammunition.[11] The Abrams was due ๐ข to be replaced ๐ท by the Future ๐ Combat ๐ Systems ๐บ XM1202 but ๐ due ๐ to its cancellation โ, the U.S ๐จ. military ๐จ๐ผโโ๏ธ has opted to continue โฉ maintaining ๐๐๐ถ๐ฝ and operating ๐ค the M1 series ๐ฌ for the foreseeable future ๐ by upgrading ๐ฏ๐ฑ๐ฒ with improved ๐ธ optics, armor ๐ช and firepower.
The M1 Abrams entered ๐ service ๐ in 1980 and currently โ serves ๐ as the main ๐ ฑ battle โ tank ๐ of the United ๐บ๐ธ States ๐ Army ๐ and Marine ๐ Corps ๐ฎ. The export ๐ธ version ๐ผ is used ๐ถ by the armies ๐ of Egypt ๐ช๐ฌ, Kuwait ๐ฐ๐ผ, Saudi ๐ฆ๐ฎ Arabia ๐ฆ๐บ, Australia ๐ฆ๐บ, and Iraq ๐ฎ๐ถ. The Abrams was first ๐ used ๐ถ in combat ๐ซ in the Persian ๐ฏ Gulf War โ๐ฃ๐ซ and has seen ๐ combat ๐ซ in both the War โ in Afghanistan ๐ท๐บ๐๐ฆ๐ซ and Iraq ๐ฎ๐ถ War ๐โ under ๐ U.S ๐จ. service ๐ฃ, while Iraqi Abrams tanks โฝ have seen ๐ action ๐ญ in the war ๐ฅโ against ๐ซ ISIL and have seen ๐ use ๐๐๐ by Saudi ๐ธ๐ฆ Arabia ๐ธ๐ฆ during the Yemeni Civil ๐ War ๐ซ.