However, after a few years, the cooperation was terminated and further work was focused only on American companies, especially in the Chrysler Defense concern. Initially, cooperation with German companies was initiated in the project designated as MBT-70. The new vehicle was to replace the Patton family tanks (M47-M48-M60) in the US Army. The M1 Abrams was created in response to the demand for a new Main Battle Tank announced by US Army already in the 60s of the twentieth century. The additional armament is 1 12.7 mm machine gun and 2 7.62 mm M240 machine guns. The vehicle is armed with a 105mm M68A1 tank gun in the M1 version, and a 120mm M256 tank gun in the M1A1 and later versions. The M1 Abrams is powered by a turbo-shaft (turbine) engine Avco Lycoming AGT-1500C 1500 hp. To date (2018), about 10500 tanks of this type have been produced. The first prototypes of the vehicle were created in the 1970s, and serial production started in 1979 continues to this day. The M1 Abrams is a modern 3rd generation American Main Battle Tank.

Us m1a1 main battle tanks