The Newest M l

The Newest M1: A Fourth Variation of the MI Tank Capitalizes on New Technology by Captain Jon Nussbaum "Bravo-Two-Six ... Bravo-Two-Six...This is White-One-Zero. Charlie-Papa One-Six. 0318 Zulu. Am continuing with mission. Out." 1LT Schwer took another quick look at the digital map on his hat-tlefield management system (BMS) display to make sure that the three blips on his map that represented the other tanks in his platoon were still on line and moving with him. "Thank God for this position navigation equipment. I would hate to have to kccp track of these guys in the dark without it. Especially the way SSG Kojro rcads a map," LT Schwer thought to himself. "Lieutenant, I think I see scatterable mines in front of us on the dirt road." said

PFC

Uliano, the lieutenant's tank driver. LT Schwer knew that the driver's thermal viewer (DTV), which PFC Uliano was using, could distinguish bctwecn the ground and the dense material of the scatterable mines, with thcir tclltale geometric shape, if temperature conditions were just right. "WMte-One-One, move onto the road and plow us a path. Over." LT Schwer ordered into his SINCGARS radio, "White One-Three, this is One-Zero. You guys set up in ovenvatch until One-One and t are on the other side of the mines. Out." "Uliano, follow SO meters behind SSG Ko,jro's mine plow tank. Make sure you stay on the plow marks and don't wander out of his path." LT Schwer could see the moonlight shining off SSG Kojro's tank through his near-panoramic periscopes in his commander's weapon station as Koiro's tank lowered its plow and headed through the minefield. LT Schwer then drew the mincfield on his digital map and pressed the button on his BMS flat-panel display, which sent the information by digital burst to the other three tanks in his platoon and to the other two platoon leaders in the company, his CO, XO, and ISG at the blink of an eye. "Silva," Schwer said to his gunner, "You search from 12 o'clock to 3 o'clock. 1'11 cover 9 o'clock to 12." LT Schwer then sct his commander's independent thermal viewer (CITV) on automatic scan from the 9 o'clock to the 12 o'clock limits, with reference to the tank's hull, set the field of view on WIDE by flicking the thumb switch on his TC's override handle, and studied his CITV display for possible targets. The CITV, which gave Schwer the same thermal sighting capahilities as his gunner, would automatically scan hack and forth between the programmed left and right limits, restarting the cycle every five seconds. PFC Uliano put the tank in gear and started to follow the trail left by White 11. "Lieutenant, tank in sector left-one!", Uliano shouted. Schwer grabbed his TC override and traversed his CITV over to the sector Uliano announced, using the symhology in his ClTV display, which corresponded with that of Uliano's DTV. Once in sector, he elevated his CITV until he saw the BMP-2 that Uliano had identified. Schwer switched to narrow field of view, layed his reticle on the center mass of the BMP, and hit his HUNTERKILLER (target designate) button. The turret of the tank instantaneously slewed over and automatically layed the gunner on the BMP at the same point that the CITV was aiming. "Gunner, battlesight, Tank!" "Identified!" "Fire and adjust!" "I hope we get him first," Schwer thought to himself, as he started to search with his CITV for any September-October 1987 friends of the BMP that may be covering the same obstacle with direct fire.

"ON THE WAY!"

"BOOM!!" The 120-mm smoothbore on Schwer's tank fired. "UP!" Turret roof details of "MlA1 +'I PVT Economy screamed as he loaded another sabot round. "TARGET!" Silva yelled happily, as secondary explosions started to rip the luckless BMP-2 apart. Schwer now heard his platoon sergeant's tank and the tank of the sergeant's wingman open up on two more BMPs. SSG Kojro's mine plow tank was now on the other side of the minefield and generating a smoke screen to cover the passage of the rest of the platoon. "Maybe I should have waited and conducted a deliberate hreach with the rest of the company," LT Schwer thought to himself as his driver gunned it across the cleared path and settled their tank in a good hull-down position parallel to White 11. Schwer hit the CONTACT hutton on his BMS display. His position, identification, and the time he hit the button, as well as a warning that he was in contact, were immediately transmitted by data burst to CPT Sanders, his CO, 1LT DeMont, his XO, and LTC Seiler, his battalion commander, using his BMS message preaddressing system. White One-Three, this is One-Zero. I'm set. Move now. Out." The two tanks moved from their overwatch positions and crossed the cleared lane. Suddenly, there was a white-hot flash, and White 12 shud-dered to a stop in the middle of the cleared mine path. The ATGM round that hit 12's turret came from the hill designated as Check Point 23 on Schwer's digital map. CP 23 was White platoon's final objective, where they were to set up in overwatch to support the assault of the rest of the company on OBJ Funk. Schwer touched CP 23 on his map and then touched the ton located next to the CONTACT button on his BMS display. IMMEDIATE SUPPRESSION but- "As long as the FIST is on line, the 4.2-inch mortar rounds should start hitting in less than two minutes," Schwer thought. White 12 started moving again and pulled up to the left side of White 13, waiting word to commence the final assault on CP 23. The 4.2-inch mortar rounds started impacting on C'P 23 as White Platoon moved out to overrun the hill, adding main gun and machine gun fires to suppress and destroy the BRDM and BMP-2 that were still on the objective. White 13 destroyed the BRDM with a main gun HEAT round, while White 11 blew the turret off of the BMP, hoth firing on the move while closing'h on the hill at CP 23. These destroyed enemy vehicles were drawn onto the BMS display's digital map and sent out by data burst, as were the first three BMPs White platoon had killed, by PSG Peterson in White 13. Once White platoon was set on CP 23, CPT Sanders moved the rest of the company out and secured OBJ Funk. CPT Sanders ordered all platoons to begin consolidation and reorganization efforts in anticipation of a counterattack. PSG Pcterson immediately received fuel and ammo reports from all the tanks in White platoon, as well as a consolidated maintenance status. He received this information through his BMS display using preformatted reports, and instantaneously forwarded a consolidated platoon report to the 1SG and battalion S4, with a single data burst. White 12 had reported that his gunner's primary sight (GPS) and cant sensor were malfunctioning, according to his BMS diagnostics system. The damage was due to the ATGM hit on the turret. The crew reported it wcwld continue to fight in a degraded mode with the cant sensor shut off and using the CITV commander's sight instead of the gunner's GPS until the ISG could send a maintenance contact team forward to affect repairs. An hour later, when preparation of his platoon's battle position was completed, LT Schwer leaned back in his hatch and took a bite out of his "John Wayne" candy bar. Suddenly the radio crackled, "All Bravo elements, this is Bravo Two SiX, frag order follo ws..." LT Schwer looked at his map display screen and studied the new overlay appearing on his map as he heard the frag order over the radio. He could see the symbology for a T- 72 company 12 km to his east and the preplanned artillery targets to his front. He knew that platoon battle positions would soon follow. "Smoke," he thought. "I'll put smoke between me and them and then pick them off, u,sing my thermal sights and COor carbon dioxide laser rangefinder before the T-72s can even see me." Schwer moved his tanks back into turret-down positions. He designated sectors of fire to the tanks in his platoon by drawing them on his map and transmitting them by data burst. Then he sat back to the wait. At 0613 hours, 252-mm artillery rounds started to blow apart the woodline on the hill 2,500 meters to the east of CP 23. LT Schwer 42

M1A1 Block II improvements looked at his BMS display and saw the NBC attack alert. "GAS! ... GAS! ... GAS!", he yelled into the intercom. The counterattack had started. Although the hypothetical battle that Schwer's platoon was fighting may be futuristic, the tank systems described will be here in the near Tu-lure - November 1988 to bc exact. The Abrams tank is a relatively new system, which was first fielded in 1980, hut has already been modified (product improved) to the point that there are three different models that have been, or are bcing, produced. The original system was the MI tank, which was produced from 1080 to 1984. The second model, produced from 19% to JO%, was the Improved Performance MI (IPML),. which received an up-armored turret, rear bustle storage rack, and modified suspension and drive systems. The third model, the MlA1, or M1 with Block I Product Improvements, is now in production and has received the M256 120-mm smoothbore main gun and an NBC overpressure system, in addition to the IPMl modifications. A fourth model will soon begin production with a second set of block improvements. This is the tank with which LT Schwer's platoon was equipped, and it is called the MlAl with Block II product improvements, or nicknamed the MlAl + . The rationale behind the Block I1 product improvements is the same as for most improvements to Army systems: a change in the threat, a change in U.S. doctrine, identified technicalhperational shortcomings in the currently-fielded systems, and new technology brcakthroughs.

IMPROVED COMMANDER'S

WEAPON STATION

INTER-VEHICULAR

INFORMATION

DRIVER'S'THERMAL

VIEWER

\

ENHANCED

SURVIVABILITY

The rapidly changing threat has been well documented and therefore will not be discussed in this article. The change in the U.S. doctrine that has recently occured is the shift from the heavily structured "Active Defense" to the highly fluid "AirLand Battle" concept, which requires rapid dissemination of information, both up and down the chain of command. Identified operational shortcomings, which are the direct result of technical shortcomings in the tank's original design, include the awkward commandcr's station; the driver's image intensifier ANWS-2 and YAGD laser rangefinder (LRF), that do not operate optimally under all obscurant conditions; an outdated command and control system; and bulky, expensive, and cumbersome intrusive diagnostics equipment. The new technology breakthrough referred to is, of course, the microprocessor chip. The objective of the Block I1 modifications is to reduce or eliminate the shortcomings while producing a tank that is lethal, survivable, and supportable on the AirLand battlefield, and that capitalizes on the newest and most reliable technologies available at the time of production. A concerted effort is being made to ensure that, as the lank becomes more technologically advanced, human fidctors engineering provides a design solution that is easier for the crew to use than the current tank during all modes ol operation, but especially when operating with closed hatches. Originally approved 1 Feb 85, and then re-analyzed in August of that year, the Block 11 product improverncnts (PIPs) now consist of seven improvements or modifications to the MlAZ tank. Five of these PIPs are scheduled to begin production in November 1988 with the remaining two delayed at least 18 months. Block I1 is planned to be retrofitted to all MlAl tanks, with individual PIPs retrofitted to the entire Abrams fleet on a case-by-case basis. The most noticeable PIPS to the tank's exterior will be the commander's independent thermal viewer (CITV) and the new commander's weapon station (CWS). The CITV will allow the tank commander to search for and acquire targets using an independently stabilized thermal sight off the main gun axis concurrently with the gunner, thereby doubling the tank's target detection capabilities. The CJTV will incorporate a "Hunter/Killer" larget designation capability, which automatically slews the main gun and GPS to the same aiming point as the CITV. September-October 1987

MlAl+ shows 'rop hat" of ClTV housing and new commander's weapon station. The same model is seen on page 41. Operationally, this will allow the gunner to service targets while the commander is searching for and laying on the ne* target. This capahility will drastically reduce engagcment times of multiple targets in both target-rich and lean environments. The commander will monitor the C'ITV using an adjustable display located in the same area as the current GPS extension (GPS-E). The CITV display will consist of either a binocular (like a MWA3 'ITS elbow) or direct view (TV) screen. along with associated CITV controls. Since the main gun can be fired off the CITV, GPS-E elimination - or replacement with a huilt-in through-sight video feed to the CITV display - is heing investigated to rcduce weight and space claims. Holes are already being cut into the roofs of production MlAl tanks in front of the loader's hatch to reduce the retrofit effort and cost of ClTV to the MlAl Reet. The new CWS will incorporate significantly improved, near-pantr ramic periscopes, a larger hatch and a ring-mounted externally-fired machine gun mount, which removes the power and manual machine gun controls in the current tanks. This removal of machine gun controls allows for a more open weapon station that is easier to use, while integrating required displays for CITV and BMS in a'manner that optimizes human lactors and man-machine interface. To correct the shortcomings of the current YAG-D laser rangefinder, a c a r 9 dioxide laser rangefinder

(CWLRF)

is being developed. The C02LRF will operate on the same wavelength as the tank's thermal sights and will therefore allow you to engage whatever you can see, regardless of 1 obscuraqt conditions. Additionally, the CO'LRF will he eye-safe, requiring no filters for training, and have a smaller "footprint" than the current LRF, to reduce the probability of multiple returns. Operationally, the change in LRFs will be transparent to the crew. The driver's passive image intensifier, AN/wS-2, will be replaced with the driver's thermal viewer (DTV). The DTV will allow the driver to operate the vehicle day or night, in all obscurant conditions, at high speeds, without requiring guidance from the commander or gunner using the GPS, as is frequently done now. The DTV will have a slightly larger field of view than the current ANNVS-2, and will incorporate two reticles. One reticle will be located at the top of the DTV viewing screen to aid in handing off driver- identified targets to the tank commander, while the second reticle will be a template depicting vehicle width at 50 meters. This template will aid the driver in maneuvering the tank through close-in areas. The hattleficld managemcnt system (BMS), also called intervehicular information system (IVIS), is the first step at harnessing the power of the microprocessor and using it to alleviate both command and control and maintenance diagnostics shortcomings. The hardware subcomponents of the BMS system, which will be in the vehicle at initial production, are a commander's interactive display with built-in processor, a dual 1553 mil standard data bus with controller, and SINCGARS radio interface. The commander's display will he an 8- to 10-inch diagonal flat panel display that will have the capability to display both text and graphics. The display will be interactive, which allows for both touch-sensi-live huttons and a free-drawing capability. The software menus will be stored and generated from a microprocessor built into the display itself. The commander's BMS display will be located to the right of the Commander's station on the turret wall, next to the ClTV display. 44

~~ _____ The 1553 mil standard data bus with controller will serve two functions. First, it will be used to integrate electronic subcomponents in the turret, replacing some of the bulky hard wiring harnesses already there, and requiring no new wiring harnesses in the traditional sense. Since the data bus is a piece of quarter-inch cable that approximates RF cable used with cable TV and VCRs, use of the data bus will reduce the bulk, weight, and complexity of the tank wiring harness architecture. Second, the data bus will reduce reliance on external intrusive diagnostic equipment at the organizational level. This will be accomplished by integrating built-in tcst (BIT) capabilities in all Block I1 PIPS, as well as the addition of BIT in as many old subcomponents as possible. The 1553 data bus control-Icr will monitor thcse subcom-ponent BIT systems on a time-sharing basis and report any faulty systems through the BMS display. This BIT diagnostic capability, in essence, allows the crcws of the MIA1 + to report what module in their tank needs to be replaced by their maintenance contact tcam before the team comes fonvard, thereby cutting vehicle down time in half, while also reducing the reliance on intrusive diagnostics equipment (STE-MI). The SINCGARS radio interface will allow the digital burst transmission of text and graphic information input to the commander's display through the SINCGARS radios. Although this text and graphics capahility will never totally replace the maneuver force's reliance of voice FM transmissions, BMS will allow for the rapid passage of tactical and logistical reports, orders, and overlays, without requiring long voice transmissions or face- to-face contact. The result of this capability will he a reduction in the force's overall electronic signature. Positionhavigation equipment (P/NE) is being developed to automatically input the tank's eight-digit grid location and vehicle heading into the BMS system. Unfortunately, unless American industry can successfully complete "Mission Impossible", P/NE will probably not be available by the initial production date. Another planned addition to the BMS that will not he ready for initial production is a data loader. The data loader will allow added memory and software flexibility in the BMS processor, similar to the relationship between a disk drive and a personal computer. With the addition of both P/NE and the data loader, BMS will be able to display color kSO,~KK)-scale maps, plot the location of all BMS-equipped vehiclcs on that map, allow for embedded training of gunnery and other related crew skills, yecision calls for indirect tires using the LRF, and many more capabilities never before imagined. Two Block 11 PIPS that will not be on the first MlAl+ tanks, due to technology or funding delays, but will be cut in and retrofitted later, are an identification, friend or foe (IFF) device and an enhanced survivability (ES) package. IFF is planned to be a passive, noncooperative system that signals the gunner and tank commander prior to firing that the target they are about to engage is either friendly or a threat. The purpose of IFF is to reduce the probability of fratricide on a fluid and confusing battlefield. ES is an armor/protection package that will increase the tank's protection against top-attack munitions, as well as increase the armor protection on other parts of the tank. The M1 mine-clearing blade system (mine plow) is not ti part of Block 11, but has been developed for the entire Abrams tank fleet. The mine plow was type-classified early in 1% and should start to be fielded by mid FYM, with one plow going to every Abrams tank platoon. The system will consist of a track-width plowing device, which attaches to the tow hook points already on the vehicle, a control box mounted in the driver's compartment, and a modified driver's daylight periscope, which allows routing of plow control cables from the plow to the control box. The integration of the MIA1 + into the Armor force in FY89 will significantly enhance the Armor force's capability to meet the near and midterm threat well into the 1990's. The M1A1+ will be a lethal, survivable and supportable tank, which will support the current AirLand Battle doctrine through improvements in the tank's firc-control system, enhanced command and control capabilities, and maintainability. "White 13, this is White 11. You are on track. Move out." Captain Jon K. Nussbaum was cornmls-sioned in Armor from the USMA in 1980 and later attended the Armor Officer Basic Course, the Armor Officer Advanced Course and the Airborne, Motor Officer, and Northern Warfare courses. He served as a platoon leader and HHT XO in 119 Cav, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, and also as the Tank Test Bed Program project officer and XO at the Directorate of Combat Developments, USAARMS. He plans to be reassigned to the 194th Armored Brigade this fall. September-October 1987