Overview
- The Army released initial images of the next-generation Abrams and confirmed hands-on testing will start in early to spring 2026, according to a Program Executive Office official.
- Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy A. George said three additional M1E3 prototypes are expected to arrive during 2026.
- Service leaders characterize the M1E3 as a reset of the Abrams line, moving away from incremental add-on upgrades to an open, modular baseline.
- Planned attributes reported for evaluation include a three-person crew with an unmanned turret, hybrid-electric drive, an autoloader and new main gun, AI-aided fire control, active protection tuned for drones and missiles, and expanded networking with robotic systems.
- Under a revised acquisition model, early prototypes will emphasize soldier feedback on crew operations, protection concepts, and unit integration to guide rapid iterations.