AUSTRALIA GETS WORLD’S BEST TANKS

The Abrams tanks represent a significant step in providing Australia with a stronger Defence Force, with which to protect our people, interests and values.

Today, the Australian Government has taken delivery of the first 18 of 59 Abrams Tanks. This project is an investment of more than $500 million in Australia’s security.

The Abrams project is ahead of schedule, and within budget. These tanks are the most advanced and capable tank in the world. 

This capability will be increasingly important, as widespread proliferation of cheap, high tech and lethal anti-armour, anti-personnel weapons could pose an increasing threat in any future conflicts.

The Abrams Tank will provide our Army with the mobility, firepower and sophisticated networking capability with which to defeat the enemy, along with superior protection that will enhance safety for our soldiers.  These tanks will be harder to hit.  When the Abrams hit, they will hit harder.

Abrams tanks are a key component of the Hardened and Networked Army initiative announced last year.  They will also enable us to co-ordinate and network with allies. 

We will have a number of options for transporting these tanks, including: our new C-17 heavy airlift aircraft; Amphibious Ships; the Adelaide to Darwin rail network; and our new tank transporter trucks. 

In total, Australia will take delivery of 59 Abrams tanks, seven M88A2 Hercules Armoured Recovery Vehicles, 14 Heavy Tank Transporters, eight Refueling Trucks, six Advanced Gunnery Training Simulators and one Tank Driver Trainer Simulator.

This significant investment further illustrates the importance of the Government’s long standing commitment to Defence and ability to deliver a strong economy.  Since 1996, funding for Defence has increased by more than 40% in real terms and the 2006/07 Budget committed to an average 3% real increase each year for the next decade. 

The Abrams will be transported to the School of Armour at Puckapunyal, with the remainder of the 59 tanks eventually being based in Darwin.

Australian industry is playing a key role in delivering this capability. The prime contractor for the Heavy Tank Transporter is MAN Military Vehicle Systems Australia Pty Ltd. Drake Trailers Pty Ltd, an Australian-owned and operated Brisbane-based company, is manufacturing 14 swing-wing trailers. Brisbane-based MAN Automotive Imports Pty Ltd is making final modifications, conducting compliance testing, and will manage the ongoing repair and maintenance support.

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