An M1A1 Abrams tank is driven on a tank course by Iraqi soldiers with the 9th Iraqi Army Division. Joint Combat Camera Center photo by Spc. Gary Silverman

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich., Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has contracted General Dynamics Land Systems for a $358 million Foreign Military Sales contract to upgrade 150 M1A1 Abrams tanks for the Kingdom of Morocco.

Under the U.S. Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command contract, the tanks will be completely disassembled and brought to zero-mile condition. Each tank will be upgraded to the M1A1 SA, or situational awareness, configuration. Upgrades will also include enhanced armor.


According to General Dynamics, refurbished tanks incur lower operational and support cost, and report higher operational readiness rates. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in January 2017, and end in February 2018.