The Marine Corps is modernizing one of its most reliable battle platforms: the M1A1 Abrams tank. A trio of upgrades to the tank commander’s weapon station will give tank commanders and gunners a “hunter-killer edge” over the enemy, according to an announcement from Marine Corps Systems Command. The improvements include better sights on the Abrams integrated display and targeting system [AIDATS], simplified handling with a single set of controls, and a “slew to cue” button that repositions the turret with a single command, officials said. The display improvements will replace a black-and-white camera view with a color one and add thermal sights that can be used day or night. The color display is a particularly significant gain, said Michael Kreiner, AIDATS project officer in SYSCOM’s Armor and Fire Support Systems division.
