The prototype M1E3 was shown off at the Detroit Auto Show, which is formally known as the North American International Auto Show (Picture: US Department of War)

Land vehicles

M1E3 Abrams: The US Army's new tank that has a cockpit like a Formula 1 car's

An early prototype of the M1E3 – the latest iteration of the Abrams – has been unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, with the head of the US Army wasting no time in making some car-related quips.

Chief of Staff General Randy George joked that while the new tank wasn't as fast as a Corvette, it could "take out a target at a quarter mile in a tenth of a second".

The car references continued at a subsequent event, where he described the driver's compartment as resembling the cockpit of a Formula 1 car.

Powered by a hybrid-electric drivetrain – and AI

Gen George also said the way the vehicle is driven "looks like an Xbox controller".

Michelle Link, one of the senior officials behind the project, said the new main battle tank would combine advanced protection with reduced weight, while having fewer logistical requirements.

The M1E3 Abrams is being built to adapt to a wide range of threats, including the growing use of drones and long-range precision weapons.

"This next-generation Abrams is designed to transform how armoured units operate globally," Ms Link explained.

"By streamlining its sustainment needs and increasing deployment speed, the M1E3 Abrams ensures faster movement from ports to the frontlines, making it more agile and accessible in any environment."

At the heart of the M1E3 Abrams is a suite of AI-powered digital engineering tools, including GenAI, which enable rapid technology integration and open systems architecture.

While main battle tanks balance the three key attributes of firepower, protection and mobility, the US Army has now put a new term into the mix – software, mobility and lethality.

Colonel Ryan Howell discusses the attributes of the M1E3 Abrams at the show (Picture: US Department of War)

Why E and not A?

The US Army says the development of the M1E3 Abrams includes the best features of the M1A2 SEPv4 and will comply with the latest modular open systems architecture standards.

It says the M1E3 is a more survivable, lighter tank that will be more effective on the battlefield and easier to upgrade in the future.

M1A2 SEPv3 variants will continue to be produced at a reduced rate until production transitions to the M1E3 Abrams, and the US Army will carry the new technologies forward into the SEPv4 Abrams modernisation effort.

Back in 2023, another project official, Major General Glenn Dean, pointed out how the war in Ukraine had highlighted the need for better crew protection.

He also explained why the new vehicle had an E in its name.

"The M1E3 Abrams nomenclature is a return to the Army's standard use of its type classification and nomenclature system for our combat vehicle fleet," he said.

"The 'E' designation represents an engineering change to an existing platform that is more significant than a minor modification.

"[It] serves to designate the prototype and development configuration until the vehicle is formally type-classified and receives an 'A' designation."