US Government to Upgrade 218 Kuwaiti M1A2 Abrams Tanks for $29 Million

The US State Department has approved an upgrade to Kuwait for M1A1 Abrams Tanks estimated to cost $29 million.

The Government of Kuwait has requested a possible sale of two hundred eighteen (218) M1A1 Abrams tank hulls with 120mm cannons and two hundred eighteen (218) AGT-1500 (M1 Tank Series) engines in support of its M1A2 tank recapitalization.

Also included are transportation and other logistics support.  The estimated cost is $29 million.

This potential sale is associated with Congressional Notification 16-66 which was notified to Congress on December 12, 2016, regarding recapitalization of 218 Kuwait M1A2 tanks.

Subsequent to the notification, Kuwait requested 218 M1A1 tank hulls from U.S. inventory be provided and upgraded vice using Kuwait’s current fleet of tanks due to its interest in maintaining operational readiness.  Kuwait will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

The M1A1 tank hulls will come from U.S. inventory.  There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.