One of the most prominent recent examples of battlefield threats is, of course, the drone. Inexpensive military drones have become the scourge of multi-million dollar tanks, weaving their way through armor gaps and being able to hit weak points while being evasive enough to avoid countermeasures. The threats to tanks are very real and growing, but the latest US prototype model, the M1E3 Abrams, proves that tanks are getting ready to face the dangers of 2026 and beyond.
It seems that the military decided that the way to do this was to make the model more stealthy, lighter (around 60 tons) and harder to target, while remaining as powerful and practical as ever and boasting a more efficient hybrid power system.
With military technology, it is often the case that ongoing plans are scrapped, resources are allocated elsewhere, or evolve into something new as the situation and associated technology evolves. This has happened with a lot of long-standing military technology, and especially with tanks. The Abrams tank was created by Chrysler Defense and first released in 1980, a third-generation main battle tank. Times have changed, however, and the M1E3 is set to be a fifth-generation model and quite a different beast. Let’s take a closer look at what features the new M1E3 will offer when it’s scheduled to hit the battlefield, and how it will deviate from the models that came before it.
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A new focus for a new generation of tanks
Soldiers on a training exercise in an M1A2 tank. – Wikimedia Commons/Spc. Devin Klecan, cropped and resized, Public Domain.
If the emphasis on shields and defenses is taken too far, there is a danger of becoming like the infamous Object 279, a Soviet tank that was ultimately too heavy to build. The Abrams was similarly designed to be a powerhouse, but now the tide is turning as tanks become increasingly vulnerable.
In response, the M1E3 is meant to become the most curious of weapons: a tank with a lower profile (the transmission will make it less visible to radar and quieter) that doesn’t compromise on firepower. Its main weapon, according to early reports, is similar to the smoothbore M256 fitted to the M1A2 (pictured above), but there are some prominent differences. Military intelligence group Global Defense News reports that the turret lacks an access point, suggesting the use of an automatic loader rather than requiring loading by a crew member. As such, the M1A2’s crew of four can become a trio.
It’s also set to have a more sophisticated active protection system and a more modular design that incorporates tools like GenAI, making future hardware and software updates easier to implement. It is also intended to address some historical weaknesses of the Abrams, one of which was fuel usage. The M1 Abrams used gas turbines over diesel engines, which caused compatibility issues when they were used alongside other armored vehicles. There’s also the fact that while I can use diesel, I voraciously swallow a lot of it. A priority with the new M1E3 is efficiency, which will be increased by around 50% with the addition of a hybrid electric motor.
Other new additions and a potential ETA for the model
Abrams tanks on sandy terrain. – Rockfinder/Getty Images
Something else makes the M1E3 prototype special, and that’s simply the fact that it’s on track to be delivered several years ahead of schedule. It was originally estimated that prototype M1E3 models would begin to be fielded in 2030, but in September 2025, General Randy George announced that the timeline had been revised. Defense Daily reports that the general told a conference in Georgia: “I’m here to tell you that we’re going to have four of those new tanks next year. [2026] as prototypes within our formation.”
Being prototypes, of course, it is currently not possible to determine exactly what functionality and specifications the finished models will have, but the key areas of focus for improvement have been clear for some time. In April 2025, Chief Technology Officer Dr. Alex Miller reported to Defense News that “the things we really want to get at is, “Hey, what happened in the last 40 years for the drivetrain? What happened in the last 40 years for power generation?”
The rise of the hybrid took place during that time frame, so it makes perfect sense that the creators of the new tank would choose to pursue a hybrid powertrain. The hybrid approach reduces emissions without leaving the vehicle entirely dependent on electric power, which is sure to be a solid fit for this very different type of vehicle as well. The next chapter of the Abrams family is being written.
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Read the original article on SlashGear.