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- The US Army wants to modernize Abrams tank while cutting at least 20,000 pounds from its weight.
- Upgrades to the new M1E3 Abrams could include an autoloader, stealth tech, and a new main gun.
- But the Abrams' bulkiest features are the armor and protective systems that make it so formidable.
A new contract decision is moving the US military's world-class Abrams tank in a direction it's never gone before: after decades of getting bulkier amid upgrades to add firepower and cutting-edge protection, it's finally getting a critically needed slim-down.