STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich., March 13 (UPI) -- General Dynamics has been contracted to purchase long-lead materials to support work on Iraqi Abrams tanks.
U.S. company General Dynamics said its Land Systems business unit was awarded the contact. Under the $33 million deal, General Dynamics will purchase long-lead materials for the production of next-generation Abrams tanks for delivery to Iraq.
Officials said the long-lead materials would enhance situational awareness for the 140 M1A1 Abrams tanks. The situational-awareness enhancements are designed to strengthen tank survivability in the dense urban combat environments in Iraq.
The 140 tanks will also include a Pulse Jet System, embedded diagnostics and the Tiger engine, which has a "monitoring system that is able to identify and alert the crew if there are potential issues with the tank," according to a news release.