Please be careful with the Commander's Independant Thermal Viewer on these babies. I'm running out of parts for them and GDLS doesn't have any either. I've never said this before but you're getting one helluva MBT.


WASHINGTON, May 24 (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Monday said it planned to sell 59 General Dynamics Corp. (nyse: GD - news - people) M1A1 Abrams Integrated Management tanks and related equipment to Australia in a deal valued at up to $475 million.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said it notified Congress about the deal on Friday, giving lawmakers 30 days in which to block the deal -- a move considered highly unlikely.

Under the deal, Australia would buy 59 tanks, 7 M88A1 medium recovery vehicles, 80 AN/VRC-92F dual long-range Single Channel Ground and Air Radio Systems, 146 night vision goggles, 73 M2 machine guns, and other equipment.

DSCA said the proposed sale would aid U.S. national security by helping improve Australia's security and enhancing its ability to operate jointly with U.S. Army and Marine Corps units for the next 25 years.

The M1A1/2 Abrams main battle tank is manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems, a unit of the Falls Church, Virginia-based company.

Other countries that operate the M1A1 Abrams tanks are Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

One more, Iraq. I heard Iraq buy some very few Abrams.

Originally Posted by Fox

One more, Iraq. I heard Iraq buy some very few Abrams.

Well I dont think that would be such a good idea. So you have a link?

Other countries that operate the M1A1 Abrams tanks are Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

what a failed list!

There are dozens of other NATO and Asian countries using this tank!

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...anks/index.php

Here．
But　ｗｈｙ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｄｏｎ，ｔ　ｃｈｏｉｃｅ　Leopald２？
I　ｋｎｏｗ　M１A１　ａｓ　ｇｏｏｄ　ｔａｎｋ，ｂｕｔ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｈａｖｅ　Leo１ａ３ 　ｎｏｗ．

Originally Posted by sandy

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/11/gd-receives-final-416m-delivery-order-for-australian-m1a1-tanks/index.php

Here．
But　ｗｈｙ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｄｏｎ，ｔ　ｃｈｏｉｃｅ　Leopald２？
I　ｋｎｏｗ　M１A１　ａｓ　ｇｏｏｄ　ｔａｎｋ，ｂｕｔ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｈａｖｅ　Leo１ａ３ 　ｎｏｗ．

IMO politics was a big factor why they chose the Abrams over the Leo 2.

Originally Posted by phoenix80

what a failed list!

There are dozens of other NATO and Asian countries using this tank!

No it is only these countries using the M1A1 as well. maybe your thinking of the M60 which was in service with a lot more countries. Most european countries use the leopard 1/2 or T-72/-55. As for asian countries i know less about what tanks are used there.

@ shadow

Japan, South Korea, Brazil are users of the type too.

http://www.armyrecognition.com/index.htm

Originally Posted by sandy

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/11/gd-receives-final-416m-delivery-order-for-australian-m1a1-tanks/index.php

Here．
But　ｗｈｙ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｄｏｎ，ｔ　ｃｈｏｉｃｅ　Leopald２？
I　ｋｎｏｗ　M１A１　ａｓ　ｇｏｏｄ　ｔａｎｋ，ｂｕｔ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｈａｖｅ　Leo１ａ３ 　ｎｏｗ．

I'll bet you it has a lot to do with the fact that the M1 series of tanks has been involved in 2 full-on wars and multiple "peace keeping" actions while the Leopard 2 is not battle tested. There is a lot to be said for a tank that has been shot at with everything from every angle and still dishes out all the punnishment of Zeus himself.

While it's not absolutely necessary, it would be nice if most MBTs in a joint mission were alike for ease of depot and field repair, spare parts, less people needed to maintain, fire the same ammo, there are a lot of reasons to go into battle with interchangable weapons.