No matter how awesome the AbramsX will be, it will likely never be worth the cost in the age of advanced drone warfare and anti-tank weapons.
The United States Army is quite proud of itself as it shows off its designs for a new version of its iconic M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank (MBT). To be clear, the Abrams MBT is the Army’s greatest tank ever conceived. The tank single-handedly defeated Saddam Hussein’s Soviet-armed army during the ground campaign of the 1991 Gulf War.
Yet, those days are over—and the Ukraine War shows how muddled the record of MBTs are in the age of drones. So why is th Pentagon blowing through so much of its massive budget to build systems that, no matter how advanced, will not perform as well as their designers claim?
The History and Specs of the “AbramsX” Tank
General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) unveiled the so-called “AbramsX” at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) conference in 2022. Designed to address the limitations of the current M1A2 Abrams while incorporating cutting-edge technologies, AbramsX aims to ensure American armored dominance well into the 2050s. But it is extremely dubious that the hype surrounding the AbramsX will result in a tank that can stand up to the AI-driven drones and hypersonic weapons of the future battlefield.
Originally, the Army had intended to simply make another upgraded variant of the original Abrams. But the Pentagon chose to cancel the proposed M1A2 SEPv4 in favor of the more ambitious M1E3 Abrams, the precursor to the AbramsX.
The AbramsX sports many advancements into its innovative design, such as reduced weight—addressing a key drawback of the M1A2 Abrams. It also includes incremental upgrades, such as the Trophy Active Protection System. The AbramsX, at approximately 60 tons, is lighter and more maneuverable, enhancing its ability to cross bridges, navigate strategic passageways, and keep pace with infantry and lighter fighting vehicles. This weight reduction, achieved without compromising survivability, is facilitated by a redesigned unmanned turret and advanced armor configurations. The lighter frame improves deployability, a key concern for rapid-response operations against near-peer adversaries, and reduces logistical burdens on transportation infrastructure.
AbramsX is designed with a hybrid-electric propulsion system, combining a Cummins diesel engine with electric batteries, marking a real departure from the fuel-hungry gas turbine of the M1A2. When combined with the weight reduction, this system offers 50 percent better fuel efficiency than the existing Abrams, reducing the need for extensive logistical support.
The AbramsX’s hybrid engine also enables “silent watch” capabilities, where the tank can operate systems or move short distances on battery power alone without emitting thermal or acoustic signatures. This stealth feature enhances survivability in contested environments, allowing the AbramsX to overcome rival MBTs. The hybrid system also supports exportable power to onboard electronics, aligning with the Army’s vision for energy-efficient platforms.
Speaking of the unmanned turret, the turret mounts a 120mm XM360-derived cannon with a ported muzzle brake, capable of firing advanced munitions like course-correcting rounds and gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles. A 30mm XM914 chain gun remote weapon station, replacing the traditional .50 caliber machine gun, enhances the tank’s ability to engage light armor, infantry, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) with programmable airburst ammunition.
Artificial intelligence (AI) will play a central role in the AbramsX’s design, with systems like the Katalyst Next Generation Electronics Architecture enabling open-architecture integration for future upgrades. AI-driven targeting systems can identify and prioritize threats, alerting crews to dangers like enemy tanks miles away with high confidence.
The tank’s 360-degree panoramic sights, equipped with multi-sensor awareness, allow the commander and gunner to scan independently without rotating the turret. The AbramsX can also launch and control drones, such as the Switchblade 300 loitering munition, integrating manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) to scout and strike targets remotely. These features position the AbramsX as a networked battlefield node, capable of coordinating with ground robots and aerial assets.
To counter drone missile threats, the AbramsX incorporates a hemispheric active protection system (APS) with three radars and launchers for 360-degree coverage, designed to intercept top-attack munitions where armor is thinnest. Enhanced armor, tailored to protect against loitering munitions and suicide drone, further bolsters survivability. The tank’s modular design allows for rapid integration of new countermeasures, ensuring adaptability to emerging threats.
The Strategy Behind the AbramsX
The AbramsX also supports the Army’s Optionally Manned Tank (OMT) program, which explores autonomous and semi-autonomous platforms. By incorporating AI and MUM-T, the tank can pair with robotic ammo carriers or reconnaissance drones, reducing risks to manned crews and enhancing battlefield flexibility.
This aligns with the Army’s broader modernization efforts, including upgrades to Stryker vehicles and the development of long-range fires systems, ensuring the AbramsX integrates seamlessly into combined arms maneuvers.
Strategically, the AbramsX signals US commitment to maintaining armored superiority against adversaries like China and Russia, whose Type 99A and T-14 Armata tanks, respectively, aim to challenge Western designs. While China’s tanks lag in crew protection and Russia’s T-14 has faced production and reliability issues, the AbramsX’s advanced sensors, AI, and modular architecture position it as a leap forward, potentially outclassing current competitors.
The Army Needs to Rethink the “Tank” Concept
Despite its promise, however, the AbramsX faces significant challenges. As a technology demonstrator, it is not yet a production-ready platform, and the Army has not ordered a prototype as of May 2025. The development timeline suggests initial operational capability in the early 2030s, contingent on successful testing and funding.
The high cost of integrating AI, hybrid propulsion, and advanced APS raises concerns, particularly given the Pentagon’s history of massive budget overruns with complex systems like the F-35 fighter. Critics warn that the AbramsX technological complexity could lead to maintenance challenges and technical breakdowns, potentially offsetting its battlefield advantages.
The tank’s hybrid engines are a source of contention, too. According to some observers, the lithium batteries pose a fire risk, burning more energetically than traditional fuel—which could make the AbramsX an expensive sitting duck for enemy drones.
A bigger, though perhaps more abstract, question is: why not just get rid of the massive MBT altogether and replace it with a smaller, more mobile unmanned system? The experience in the Ukraine War has been that the traditional advantages of the MBTs for both sides in the conflict have been stunted by things like advanced drones and portable, anti-tank weapons, such as the Javelin missile.
Ultimately, the age of manned MBTs should be coming to an end. The Americans are still playing by last century’s rules. No matter how awesome the AbramsX will be, it will likely never be worth the cost in the age of advanced drone warfare and anti-tank weapons. Creating cheaper automated systems would be a better use of America’s limited resources.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / M2M_PL.
