This is the first major delivery under Australia's Foreign Military Sales program with the United States. These tanks will now be transported to Fort Hood, Texas, in preparation for the training of Australian tank soldiers and maintainers as they convert to the new vehicle.

The Abrams M1A1 AIM tanks will replace the current Leopard AS1 tank and will provide the Army with increased firepower, mobility and survivability for soldiers on the battlefield.

This tank will form a key component of the 'Hardened and Networked' Army announced by the Government last year.

Funding for these tanks has been provided as part of the Government's commitment to spending $28 1/2 billion on defence capability over the 10-year period to 2010.

This funding builds on the 2000 White Paper commitment to increase Defence funding by three per cent annually until 2010/11.

The Abrams ensures that if we have to deploy our forces on close combat operations they will have the combat weight they need to achieve their mission without undue risk.

All tanks procured under this project have been rebuilt under the Abrams Integrated Management program.

The AIM program applies modifications and technology improvements to the M1A1 tank to ensure that it will serve to 2020 and beyond.

The comprehensive rebuild process means the tanks have embedded diagnostics and digitalisation plus a range of armour, firepower, automotive and engine improvements.

The modification process for the Australian tanks began in June 2005 when the 59 Australian-selected M1A1 tanks were transferred to the Anniston Army Depot, Alabama, where they were stripped to their component parts. The upgrade and technology enhancement process takes place at the Joint Services Manufacturing Centre, Lima, Ohio.

The delivery of these new capabilities is proceeding to schedule and demonstrates the close cooperation occurring between Defence Materiel Organisation and Army.

The Abrams will be introduced into Army training schools in Australia in late 2006. It will be fielded in Darwin by mid-2007.

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