Poland has received 36 more battle tanks of the M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams type as well as seven M88A2 Hercules recovery tanks on Abrams chassis. The announcement was made by the country’s Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz on Thursday this week on X. This brings the total delivered to 182 of 250 ordered M1A2 and 33 of 49 M88A2. In addition, 116 older M1A1FEP from former U.S. Marine Corps stocks, ordered in 2023 and delivered by 2024, are included.
The procurement also includes 25 M1110 bridgelayers and 25 M1150 Pionierpanzer (engineering tanks), which have not yet arrived. In 2022 Poland had temporarily leased 28 M1A2 SEPv2 for training purposes. In addition to the Abrams, the Polish Army currently has 180 of 269 ordered main battle tanks of the South Korean type K2, 105 Leopard 2A5 and 128 Leopard 2 A4 as well as A4PL in its inventory.
Poland is the first European user of the M1A2
Poland is the first European user of the Abrams and will in the future operate the world’s fourth-largest fleet after the United States, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. This fleet will be deployed in the 18th Mechanized Division. Regarding older types, after extensive transfers to Ukraine there are still about 150 of the domestic T-72 development PT-91 Twardy. These are to be replaced mainly by 180 additional K2s in a Polish version.
The M1A2 SEPv3 is the latest version of the Abrams with the System Enhancement Package. It includes extensive improvements in power supply, communications, maintainability, protection and effectiveness. Among other features, it has an auxiliary power unit, an improved night vision system, a new armor package including reactive armor and the active protection system Trophy. The cannon can fire new types of ammunition including M1147 Airburst rounds. The turret also carries a remote weapons station.
