Dragon USMC M1A1 AIM Abrams Main Battle Tank with TUSK I Survival Kit - "Young Guns", 8th Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Iraq, 2003 (1:72 Scale)

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USMC M1A1 AIM Abrams Main Battle Tank with TUSK I Survival Kit - "Young Guns", 8th Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Iraq, 2003 (1:72 Scale)

Dragon USMC M1A1 AIM Abrams Main Battle Tank with TUSK I Survival Kit - "Young Guns", 8th Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Iraq, 2003

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Dragon DRR63182 USMC M1A1 AIM Abrams Main Battle Tank with TUSK I Survival Kit - "Young Guns", 8th Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Iraq, 2003 (1:72 Scale)

"We will carry out a campaign characterized by shock, by surprise, by flexibility ... and by the application of overwhelming force."
- CENTCOM commander General Tommy Franks commenting on the conduct of Operation: Iraqi Freedom, March 21st, 2003

The M1 Abrams was the next stage in American tank development after the M60 series. Chrysler completed the prototype in 1978 and the first production vehicles appeared in 1980 with 30 tanks a month being built in the years that followed by General Dynamics, then a division of Chrysler Motors. Its advanced Chobham armour makes the M1 the best protected US main battle tank yet devised. Its gas turbine engine is smaller and easier to service than a diesel engine, but the extra fuel requirement negates the space saved, which is perhaps why the idea was rejected for acquiring the German-built Leopard 2. Thermal sights, laser rangefinder equipment, and a sophisticated gun stabilization system give the M1 excellent firepower on the move, be it day or night. In the 1991 Gulf War, the Abrams proved itself the best tank in the world, knocking out Iraqi T-72s with impunity. In fact, no Abrams were lost due to enemy fire.

According to General Dynamics, international sales of the Abrams tank are strong. Egypt has purchased 777 M1A1 tank kits. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia purchased and fielded 315 M1A2 Abrams tanks in the Royal Saudi Land Forces, and lest we forget the Government of Kuwait, which purchased and fielded 218 M1A2 Abrams tanks in the Kuwaiti Land Forces. All of these nations are considering additional orders or configuration upgrades for their existing fleet of M1A1/A2 tanks.

Further M1A2 improvements, called the System Enhancement Program (SEP), are underway to enhance the tank's digital command and control capabilities and to to improve the tank's fightability and lethality. The M1A2 SEP (System Enhancement Package), is the digital battlefield centerpiece for Army XXI. It is the heavy force vehicle that will lead Armor into the next century and transition the close combat mission to the Future Combat System (FCS). The M1A2 SEP is an improved version of the M1A2. It contains numerous improvements in command and control, lethality and reliability.

The SEP upgrade includes improved processors, color and high resolution flat panel displays, increased memory capacity, user friendly Soldier Machine Interface (SMI) and an open operating system that will allow for future growth. Major improvements include the integration of the Second Generation Forward Looking Infared (2nd Gen FLIR) sight, the Under Armor Auxiliary Power Unit (UAAPU) and a Thermal Management System (TMS).

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a USMC M1A1 AIM Abrams main battle tank with a TUSK I Survival Kit that was attached to the 8th Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, then deployed to Iraq during 2003. The M1A1 AIM ("Abrams Integrated Management") are refurbished Abrams tanks with additional sensors and communication platforms for better integration with the new information space on the battlefield. The M1A1 AIM were put into service by the Australian Army by 2007. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Length: 5-1/4-inches
Height: 1-3/4-inches

Release Date: December 2023

Historical Account: "Take AIM" - AIM is a joint program to refurbish M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks. M1A1 Abrams tanks are completely disassembled and overhauled to a like-new, "zero-mile, zero-hour" condition. The refurbished M1A1 AIM tanks incur lower operational and support costs and report higher operational readiness rates. AIM is a joint program involving the U.S. Army Project Manager for the Heavy Brigade Combat Team; the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command; the Anniston Army Depot, Anniston, Ala.; and General Dynamics Land Systems. The first Abrams Integrated Management M1A1 MBT for the 21st century (AIM XXI) was accepted by the US Army in a joint industry and depot ceremony at the Lima Army Tank Plant in December 1996. This was just six months after General Dynamics Land Systems^was awarded a US $4.1 million firm fixed-price contract to refurbish 18 M1A1 MBTs in a Proof of Principle program by the US Army in a teaming arrangement with the Anniston Army Depot (ANAD).

The AIM XXI program is designed economically to rebuild and maintain the M1A1 MBT to a 'like new' condition. This will improve fleet readiness and reduce sustainment costs through a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). AIM XXI integrates the original equipment manufacturer and depot support of the M1A1 MBT fleet in the areas of vehicle restoration, field support and information management. In August 1998, the US Army awarded General Dynamics a contract worth US $20.7 million to refurbish 45 M1A1 MBTs to the AIM XXI by July 2000. In the AIM XXI program M1A1 MBTs are completely disassembled at the Anniston Army Depot and overhauled at the Lima Army Tank Plant. In FY 1999, the US Army hopes to refurbish as many as 70 additional M1A1 MBTs and continue the program in the year 2000 to the year 2005 at upwards of 90 M1A1 MBTs a year.