The M1E3 is said to feature an autoloader—the first time that technology has been installed by the US Army, which has historically balked at its drawbacks.

The US Army’s M1E3 tank prototype was featured in a social media post earlier this week by the US Army Speed to Delivery division. The vehicle is the newest variant of the iconic M1 Abrams main battle tank, which has been the workhorse of the US military for nearly five decades.

According to online reports, the pair of photos was intended to confirm that the Army has accepted delivery of the prototype, which will soon begin testing.

“Testing of the M1E3 will begin in early 2026,” Ashley John, director of public and congressional affairs for the Army Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems, told Task & Purpose on Wednesday. “Timing is early-to-spring 2026 to start. Further details are not releasable at this time.”

The M1E3 will get its moment in the spotlight later this month as it has been announced that the MBT will be officially unveiled at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show, the year’s first dedicated trade and consumer automotive exhibition.

The M1E3 Is a Modernized Abrams Variant

The United States Army hasn’t provided any specifics about the M1E3, but almost as soon as the images were posted, comments abounded regarding the MBT’s overall shape and potential capabilities.

It is clear that the new 21st-century Abrams retains the M256 120mm main gun and a modified/redesigned turret, and is outfitted with external sensor housings that could provide driver-assistance, autonomous navigation, or improved situational awareness. LED lights are also positioned on the chassis, for unknown purposes.

There has been considerable speculation about the crew layout—notably after the Army indicated that the new MBT would incorporate an autoloader, reducing its crew from four to three. This would be a sea change for Western tank designs, which typically do not feature autoloaders, and analysts have weighed the pros and cons of the technology. When it works, an autoloader can significantly increase reload time, making for a more lethal MBT. However, existing autoloaders have been known to jam, rendering the tank combat-ineffective—and leaving the crew inside what is little more than a steel death trap on the battlefield.

Details on the New Tank Will Continue To Emerge

As the M1E3 is a prototype, the final layout and features are likely to evolve further, but the photos suggest the US Army is moving forward with a slimmed-down, more capable MBT.

In September 2023, the US Army abruptly canceled the M1A2 System Enhancement Package version 4 (SEPv4) for the Abrams. It immediately shifted focus to developing the M1E3 to better prepare for battlefield threats in the 2040s.

The goal has been to integrate the best features of SEPv4 while reducing the tank’s weight, which had increased considerably in the 46 years since the US military adopted the original M1 Abrams. General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) received a contract to design a lighter variant, designated the M1E3, intended to complement the M30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle.

One factor in ditching the SEPv4 was that, for decades, upgrades to the M1 Abrams had simply added more of everything, including armor and advanced equipment. In doing so, it added significant weight. The original version of the American M1 MBTs weighed 67.6 tons, while the latest models in service today have increased in weight, with the current model exceeding 73 tons.

The US Army has called for the M1E3 to weigh less than 60 tons, but it is unclear if that is a realistic goal.

What is also unknown at this point is what capabilities the M1E3 might have to counter drone threats, which have proven to be the biggest game changer in armored combat since the tank rolled into action 110 years ago this September at the Battle of the Somme.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image: USArmyFast / X.com.

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