Kuwait to keep legacy M1A2 tanks in service
An M1A2 Abrams tank from the 35th Martyr Armoured Brigade displayed at the Gulf Defence and Aerospace show in December 2017. (Janes/James Bingham)
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) confirmed that Kuwait is keeping at least some of its original M1A2 tanks in service alongside its new M1A2K tanks when it announced on 4 June that the US Department of State has approved the sale of sustainment support for both types.
The DSCA said the support was estimated to be worth a maximum of USD350 million, with General Dynamics Land Systems acting as the principal contractor but did not say how many legacy M1A2s would be covered.
Kuwait initially planned to upgrade its fleet of 218 M1A2s, but the DSCA revealed in October 2017 that it had decided instead to buy additional ex-US military tanks “due to its interest in maintaining operational readiness”. The tanks were rebuilt to the Kuwait-specific M1A2K standard and delivered in 2022.
For more information, please seeKuwait exercises new tanks .
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