You can see the latest from 1945 on Russia's T-14 Armata here and here. To keep up with the demand and to compete with Russian tanks such as the T-14 Armata, the Americans needed to constantly improve the Abrams over the years. Since then, US allies have ordered hundreds of the various Abrams models. Moreover, the United States didn't lose a single tank crew member during the first Gulf War. The Americans lost only 18 Abrams tanks, with nine taken out of service due to damages, while another nine were destroyed completely. That's when the Abrams made piecemeal of the Iraqis.

Almost 1,900 tanks streamed across the desert to attack Saddam Hussein's Army. The Abrams did not see major conflict until Operation Desert Storm, but there it dominated the Iraqis. To read the full story, click here.Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. Have those who plan future equipment requirements for the ADF not even noticed the trend for a lightly armed adversary to use loitering small aerial vehicles, similar to the AeroVironment Switchblade kamikaze drone, to fly and hover over tanks, descend onto them, then explode their onboard munitions causing destruction of the tank including killing all of its crew. Interested readers know the love of firepower goes all the way back to Oliver Cromwell, at the Battle of Edgehill in 1642, who is supposed to have told his Roundhead troops in that opening fight of the English civil war, ”Put your trust in God, my boys, but mind to keep your powder dry.’

Hopefully the Defence Strategic Review currently underway will agree. The author of this article considers there can be no basis for requiring tanks for any military operations in South East Asia, our most likely engagement area in the near future.

“Upgraded M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams Main Battle Tanks and Combat Engineering Vehicles are being acquired via the United States Government Foreign Military Sales program.” When APDR asked Defence about the current Abrams tank situation their spokesperson gave an unequivocal answer “Defence will invest $3.5 billion in the Main Battle Tank Upgrade (LAND 907 Phase 2) and Combat Engineering Vehicle (LAND 8160 Phase 1) projects with approximately $2 billion approved in acquisition and $1.5 billion in sustainment. Why, for goodness’s sake, would Australia be wanting to buy more tanks? Is it a distant memory of World War 2 and fighting in North Africa, or deployments more recently in the Middle East? The die appears to be cast with purchases going ahead for the moment.

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