Engineers at General Dynamics Land Systems in Sterling Heights, Mich., sought a compact yet efficient power supply for the U.S. Army’s M1A2 Abrams main battle tank. They found a solution at GE Aviation in Evendale, Ohio.
According to a two-year, $7 million contract, GE Aviation executives will supply electronic power systems, including three upgraded power supplies per tank.
“The M1A2 system delivers maximum power in a package that weighs less and is more compact than its predecessors, while providing the rugged reliability critical to field operations,” says Dr. John Ferrie, president of the Systems division at GE Aviation, formerly Smiths Aerospace.
The small, modular power supply employs technology that eliminates all internal wiring, lending to greater reliability and lower production costs for the M1A2 tank. The system is being designed and manufactured at GE’s facility on Long Island, N.Y. Deliveries will begin this year.
The Army is upgrading roughly 1,000 M1 tanks to the M1A2 configuration. The upgrades include the addition of dual, redundant harness components and data buses, as well as the distribution of electrical power systems such that all the tank’s power controls are not in one place. For more information, visit GE Aviation online at www.geae.com.
