The advanced M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks that the Polish Army is receiving from the USA

Poland continues to receive new battle tanks for the already extensive armored fleet of the Polish Army Ground Forces.

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Last Saturday, the 18th Mechanized Division "Żelazna" and the the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade "Tadeusz Kosciuszko" published two series of photos showing the arrival of a rail convoy loaded with new M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks, one of the most modern versions of this armored vehicle manufactured in the United States.

Initially designated M1A2C and equipped, like other versions of the Abrams, with the 120mm M256 smoothbore gun, the M1A2 SEPv3 can fire M829A4 kinetic energy penetrator projectiles, of the APFSDS-T type, and M1147 AMP airburst multipurpose projectiles, an advanced ammunition that combines the characteristics of up to four different projectiles, in order to reduce the logistical footprint.

The M1A2 SEPv3 weighs 66.8 tons and has a unit cost of $24 million. It is currently the primary version of the Abrams in the U.S. Army, with a goal of completing more than 2,200 units. This version includes enhanced forward-facing infrared (IFLIR) technology, a Next Generation Armor Package (NGAP), Abrams Reactive Armor Tile (ARAT) reinforced armor panels on the front of the turret, improved anti-IED armor, and a stationary auxiliary power unit (APU) to avoid relying on the engine to power the vehicle's electronic systems.

This Monday, the military daily Polska Zbrojna reported that the convoy that arrived on Saturday included 29 M1A2 SEPv3 tanks for the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade, part of the 18th Mechanized Division. Although the Abrams tanks are already in Poland, before arriving at the Warsaw Brigade, they will first undergo a de-sealing process at the Poznań Military Automotive Plant, according to Polska Zbrojna.

Poland signed the contract to acquire these tanks in 2022, during the government of Mateusz Moraewiecki, when the country began its rearmament process due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to Polska Zbroja, the contract is worth approximately $4.75 billion and included 250 new M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks, 26 M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicles, and 17 M1074 Joint Assault Bridge System bridge-laying systems, based on the Abrams chassis, with deliveries scheduled for the end of 2026. The Polish military newspaper notes that in 2023 Poland decided to increase its order for recovery vehicles intended to support the US tanks. An initial order was placed for 12 M88A2 Hercules vehicles, with another 11 to be delivered in 2025, bringing the total fleet to 49.

Polska Zbroja reports that Poland has already received more than half of the M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks ordered for 2022, all of the M1074 Joint Assault Bridge System bridge-laying vehicles, and most of the M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicles. The M1A2 SEPv3 tanks are being assigned to two units: the 1st Armored Brigade in Warsaw, based in Wesoła, and the 19th Mechanized Brigade in Lublin.

Poland is assembling a powerful tank force, one of the largest in NATO, after the United States and Turkey. In addition to more than half of the 250 M1A2 SEPv3 tanks ordered, the Polish Army already has 116 M1A1FEP Abrams, 105 Leopard 2A5, 46 Leopard 2A4, 82 Leopard 2PL, between 173 and 203 PT-91 Twardy tanks, and 180 K2GF Black Panther tanks in operation. Furthermore, Poland will receive 820 locally produced K2PL Black Panther tanks.

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Photos: 1 Warszawska Brygada Pancerna / 18 Dywizja Zmechanizowana.