First Polish M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams Delivered
On the 18 January, the port in Gdynia received the first delivery of M1A2 SEPv3 Main Battle Tanks ordered by the Polish Armed Forces. The entry of this new vehicle into service marks the milestone of the modernization of the Polish Army and its transformation to the newest fighting standards.
The delivery is a final step before the introduction of the tanks into combat units. They are the newest variants of the Abrams tanks and their arrival was preceeded by the opening of the Abrams Maintenance Center in Poznan, as well as the primary introduction of the M1A1 tanks into the 1st Armored Brigade.
Back in 2021 when the procurement decision was made nobody expected war in Ukraine. The issue at the time was the aging fleet of ex-Soviet T-72M tanks and exploited PT-91 which were forming the bulk of Polish armored brigades. Despite owning over two hundred Leopard 2 in A4 and A5 variants, systematic replacement of tanks was deemed necessary. Thus the prospect of the first deliveries planned for 2025 marked the need to supplement the M1A2 SEPv3 purchase with an off-the-shelf solution – an M1A1 FEP Abrams, an older but still very capable variant.
The first batch of 28 tanks delivered to Gdynia begins a series of shipments that will last until 2026. In total 250 of M1A2 SEPv3 tanks will be brought to Poland. Along with them M88 ARVs, munitions, and spare equipment will be unloaded sometime soon. Military infrastructure is ready for this with technicians and crews awaiting at the 1st Armored Brigade. New battalions were trained in Bolesławiec Proving Ground where leased M1A2 SEPv2s prepared first servicemen for action.
By the end of 2026, a total of 366 Abrams tanks will serve within the Polish Armed Forces. The 116 previously delivered M1A1 FEP tanks will undergo modernization to the SEPv3 standard past this date. Alongside the deliveries of M1A2s, Poland still receives shipments of armament from South Korea including the K2 Black Panther MBTs which will serve alongside Abrams in other units.