62 t137,000 lb
An M1A2 Abrams tank weighs about 62 tonnes (about 137,000 lb) ready for combat, or 68.7 US short tons. The weight has grown with each upgrade: the original M1 weighed about 54 tonnes, and the current M1A2 SEPv3 weighs about 66.8 tonnes (147,200 lb), heavy enough to strain some bridges and transporters.
| M1A2 SEPv373.6 short tons, the version the US Army builds today | 66.8 t147,000 lb |
|---|---|
| M1A2 SEPv271.2 short tons | 64.6 t142,000 lb |
| M1A268.7 short tons combat weight | 62.3 t137,000 lb |
| M1A1 SA67.6 short tons, with added armor | 61.3 t135,000 lb |
| M1A163 short tons, the first version with the 120 mm gun | 57.2 t126,000 lb |
| M160 short tons, entered service in 1980 | 54.4 t120,000 lb |
The Federation of American Scientists lists the combat weight of the M1A2, the tank ready to fight, at 68.7 short tons. US figures are in short tons of 2,000 lb, so that is 137,400 lb or about 62.3 tonnes. GlobalSecurity gives a slightly higher 69.54 short tons (about 63 t), which is why you will see figures of 62 to 63 tonnes for the same tank.
The number on this page is that M1A2 figure. It is a good middle value for the Abrams family: the first M1 was about 8 tonnes lighter, and the newest tanks in US service are about 5 tonnes heavier. With a crew of four, a 120 mm gun and thick composite armor, every version weighs more than 50 tonnes.
The M1 entered service in 1980 at 60 short tons (about 54 t) with a 105 mm gun. The M1A1 of 1986 brought the larger 120 mm gun and weighed 63 short tons (57 t), and later armor packages, electronics and sights kept adding weight. The M1A2 SEPv2 reached 71.2 short tons (64.6 t) and the SEPv3 73.6 short tons (66.8 t). The Trophy active protection system, fitted to the SEPv3, adds about 5,000 lb (2,270 kg) on its own.
In 2021 the Pentagon’s chief weapons tester reported that the SEPv3 was too heavy for the Army’s current recovery vehicles, tactical bridges and heavy equipment transporters. The Army’s program office disagreed and said the tank had no new restrictions compared with earlier Abrams. In 2023 an Army general said a planned SEPv4 would still weigh 73.6 tons, and that being unable to use some bridges was a problem.
In September 2023 the Army cancelled the SEPv4 and started the M1E3 instead. Its target weight is about 60 short tons (about 54 t), roughly the weight of the original M1, with a hybrid diesel-electric drive and an autoloader that cuts the crew from four to three.
Every Abrams so far is driven by the AGT1500, a gas turbine of 1,500 hp (1,120 kW) rather than a diesel. It runs on diesel, jet fuel and other fuels, but it is thirsty. GlobalSecurity gives about 0.6 miles per gallon, which is roughly 3.9 litres per kilometre, and about 300 US gallons (1,136 L) every eight hours of operation.
The tank holds about 505 US gallons (1,909 L), enough for about 265 miles (426 km) on roads. In 2023 the Army said the M1E3 should cut the armored brigade’s fuel burden by 20 percent, so that tank companies would no longer need refuelling three times a day in combat. The Army’s chief technology officer later said the hybrid drive would be about 40 percent more fuel efficient.
An M1A2 weighs about 137,400 lb (68.7 short tons) in combat order. The newest M1A2 SEPv3 weighs about 147,200 lb (73.6 short tons), and the original M1 weighed about 120,000 lb.
US Army figures are in short tons of 2,000 lb, so “68.7 tons” for the M1A2 means about 62.3 metric tonnes. Mixing the two units up is why the same tank is sometimes quoted at both 62 and 69 tons.
About 0.6 miles per gallon, or roughly 3.9 litres per kilometre. A tank uses about 300 US gallons (1,136 L) in eight hours of operation and carries about 505 gallons (1,909 L).
Only the largest military cargo planes can. The Federation of American Scientists notes that the C-5 Galaxy, the largest cargo aircraft in the US Air Force, could carry only one tank at a time.
The Army’s target is about 60 short tons (about 54 tonnes), roughly 13 tonnes lighter than the SEPv3. The first prototype was delivered in December 2024, and the Army planned troop testing of early versions in 2026.
Last checked October 2, 2026.
