General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) has received a contract from the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) for provision of spare parts for the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank (MBT).
With an estimated potential value of $9.5m, the indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract covers delivery of spares for the M1A2 system enhancement package (SEP) version 1 and version 2 tanks to the DLA.
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General Dynamics Land Systems combat support and sustainment vice-president Graz Graziano said the company was committed to help DLA realise its strategic goal of reducing programme costs by $10bn in the next five years.
"By aligning our approach to support their objective, we presented DLA with new ideas for significant material-cost reduction over the life of this contract," Graziano said.
A technologically advanced digital tank, the M1A2 SEP features improved colour displays, commander remote operated weapon station (CROWS II), a thermal management system (TMS) and a tank-infantry phone to provide commanders and crew with increased situational awareness of both vehicle and tactical surroundings.
Additional features include two forward-looking infrared detectors in both the gunner’s primary sight and the commander’s independent thermal viewer, day and night thermal sights, auxiliary power and ballistic solution upgrades for advanced ammunition such as M829A3 kinetic energy and M1028 canister rounds.
An upgraded variant of the US Army and Marine Corps M1A1 MBT, the M1A2 Abrams tank is designed to engage and attack enemy forces using enhanced firepower, manoeuvrability and shock effect.
Programme management work under the contract will be conducted at General Dynamics Land Systems-Force Protection in Ladson, South Carolina, while parts will be manufactured at the company’s facility in Scranton, Pennsylvania, US.
Contract work will begin immediately and is scheduled to be carried out through April 2016.
Image: US Army soldiers offload M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. Photo: courtesy of US Army staff Sgt Rauel Tirado.
