First US M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks arrive in Poland
The Polish Army has received the first batch of M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks from the United States, Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz has announced. The first batch of 28 tanks was delivered by sea and has already been shipped.
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The combat vehicles are currently undergoing technical inspection, after which they will be transferred to the ground forces.
Poland has ordered a total of 250 M1A2 SEPv3 tanks, which are being modernised at the Lima, Ohio, plant. Deliveries are scheduled for the period from 2025 to 2026. In addition to the new tanks, Poland is using 116 M1A1 FEP tanks that were previously in service with the US Marine Corps. In the future, these tanks will also be upgraded to the M1A2 SEPv3 level.
The total value of the purchase of tanks and related equipment is USD 6 billion. As part of the deal, Poland will receive 250 AN/VLQ-12 CREW Duke IED countermeasures, 26 M88A2 HERCULES evacuation vehicles, 17 M1110 joint assault bridges, 276 M2 machine guns, 500 M240C machine guns and 15 AGT1500 gas turbine engines.
M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks delivered to Poland. Illustration: Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz
The M1A2 SEPv3 tanks will be in service with the 18th Mechanised Division named after General Tadeusz Buk. They will join the 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade and the 19th Mechanised Brigade, which are part of the division. Poland currently has 28 M1A2 SEPv2 tanks, which are used for crew training and will be returned to the United States.
In parallel, Poland is purchasing South Korean K2 tanks. The production and delivery of 180 K2 units is being carried out by Hyundai Rotem in 4 batches. In 2026, it is planned to start production of K2PL tanks in Poland, the total number of which should reach 820 units.
Source: Ministry of Defence of Poland
