US Army’s new tank uses ‘smart’ ammunition that replaces at least four existing rounds

LETHALITY, survivability and sustainability have all been flagged as the improvements from a new weapon about the rolled out by the US military.

THE US Army has gotten a deadly new weapon that has stronger armour, better electronics, and more efficient propulsion and power systems than anything ever seen before.

Officially known as the M-1A2 Systems Enhancement Package Version 3 — or M-1A2SEPV3 for short — the new battle tank is a huge step forward from the military’s former fighting vehicle that entered service in 2007.

Vice president at General Dynamics Land Systems Don Kotchman said the tanks offered clear improvements from the predecessors.

“Principal improvements are in lethality, survivability and sustainability,” he told Jane’s.

The new tank is the first in the ground combat branch’s inventory to be compatible with the Army’s Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP) smart cannon round.

Fired from the 120-millimetre-diameter main cannon, the 22-kilogram AMP round instantly reconfigures itself depending on the type of target it is being used for.

The ‘smart’ ammunition replaces at least four existing rounds and will automatically adjusting its fuse to pierce an enemy tank’s armour, break through a wall or sending lethal fragments over the location of hidden soldiers.

Lt. Colonel Kyle McFarland said once the round has been put into the cannon’s breach, a command is entered into the tank’s computer and the weapon will adapt accordingly.

“Having one round for multiple targets saves critical time for soldiers in combat since they will always have an effective round for whatever target they identify,” he told Army.mil .

“This ability to shave seconds off the first effective engagement can mean the difference between life and death.”

The advancement comes at a welcome time for the US Army, with Russia’s new Armata tank believed to be boasting technologies far superior to that found on the new M-1A2SEPV3.

Currently still in development, the Russian tank boasts a three-person crew and a highly-automated, unmanned turret.

“The technical means of automatic target-tracking and identification greatly exceeds the human capability,” an anonymous source told Russian-owned Sputnick News.

Lt. McFarland said the only downside of the new tank was the cost — around $20 million apiece.

“If you were to compare the cost of a single AMP round to one of the single rounds it replaces, the AMP is going to cost more,” he said.