Abrams Integrated Management (AIM) is a joint effort to refurbish M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks involving various Pentagon agencies and General Dynamics Land Systems. AIM refurbishing of M1 tanks incurs lower operational and support costs, raises operational readiness rates, improves standardization, offers low-cost leverage opportunities for incremental upgrades, and minimally sustains the Abrams industrial base.
Under the AIM program, used M1A1 Abrams tanks are completely disassembled and each component is evaluated. While many of the components remain at Anniston Army Depot, AL, others are shipped to appropriate rebuild sites. Turret and hull subsystems are first worked on at Anniston and then shipped to Lima, OH where the tank is fully reassembled, tested and accepted back into the Army’s fleet in a zero-mileage equivalent, like-new condition. The U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, MI recently issued two contracts related to this effort:
General Dynamics Land Systems in Warren, MI received a $31.25 million firm-fixed-price sole-source contract (DAAE07-01-G-N001) for M1A1 Vehicle Material Sets, material associated with the refurbishment and production of 75 Abrams Integrated Management (AIM) tanks. The 75 AIM tanks are scheduled for delivery to U.S. Army units beginning in July 2006. Initial funding authorized under the contract was $31.25 million, so the modified contract now has a value of $65 million. Work will be performed in Lima, Ohio (77%), Scranton, Pa. (20%), and Muskegon, Mich. (3%), and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2007.
AGT-1500 Turbine Engine
Honeywell International in Tempe, AZ received a $13.8 million sole-source modification to a firm-fixed-price contract (DAAE07-00-C-N131) for Rebuild of the M-1 tank’s Advanced Gas Turbine 1500 Turbine Engine. Work will be performed in Anniston, AL, and is expected to be complete by Aug. 31, 2006.
The U.S. Army’s Abrams sustainment & development program ultimately includes the AIM program, the PROSE (Partnership for Reduced O&S Costs, Engine) program, and ultimately a new gas turbine engine. PROSE Phase 1 aims to overhaul the existing AGT 1500 engine/components, in order to reengineer the production process and improve field support. As part of PROSE Phase 2, Honeywell International Engines and Systems and General Electric have a contract to develop a new LV100-5 gas turbine engine. These measures, plus ongoing electronics upgrades, are expected to sustain the U.S. Army’s fleet of almost 7,000 Abrams tanks into 2027.
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