Weapons

Army Chief Outlines Future Tank Features

The chief of staff of the U.S. Army discussed what he'd like to see in a future tank to replace the M1 Abrams. Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. last week. Chief of Staff Mark Milley mentioned railguns, a reduced crew or no crew at all, so-called active protection systems, and a super strong yet lightweight armor that could dramatically lower the weight of future tanks.

Quoted in Breaking Defense, Milley made it clear he wanted the tank that follows the 40 year old M1A2 Abrams tank to have "breakthrough"—as opposed to incremental—technologies. An incremental technology tank would have, for example, a 140-millimeter main gun, a more efficient turbine or diesel engine, and more armor but perhaps nothing more extreme than that