An M1A1 AIM during exercises.An M1A1 SA of the National Guard.
M1A1 AIM: Abrams Integrated Management (AIM) Program was a program to upgrade the capabilities of the standard M1A1 Abrams. The AIM program, beginning in the late-90’s, focused on extending the life of the M1A1 Abrams by implementing 2nd-Generation Forward-Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) w/ Far Target Locate sensors, a tank-infantry phone, communications gear, including FBCB2 and Blue Force Tracking to aid in crew situational awareness. This upgrade package brought the standard M1A1 Abrams into the communication fray by allowing further acquisition and the passing of target information. Not only this, but the new thermal imagers allowed the gunner, and commander improved situational awareness. The M1A1 AIM would become the mainstay of the U.S. Army until the M1A2 would effectively replace it with the introduction of the System Enhancement Packages(SEP) as well as the introduction of the M1A1 SA. It saw action in Iraq from U.S. intervention. The Australian Defense Forces (ADF) were another major user of the M1A1 AIM. This vehicle should be foldered with the M1A1 HC.
M1A1 SA: The M1A1 SA (Situational Awareness), also known as the M1A1 AIM v.2, is the latest (and last) variant of the M1A1 Abrams fielded by the United States Army. Introduced in the late-2000’s by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) for the Abrams Tank Upgrade Program (which also introduced the M1A2 SEPv2 and SEPv3 upgrades), was designed to bring older M1A1 models to current “zero-hour” fighting condition. This includes new features such as 3rd-generation depleted uranium armor (the same found on the M1A2 Abrams SEP/SEPv2), retaining the same 2nd-generation FLIR for the Gunner, 2nd-generation thermals for the Commander (from the Thermal Sight Module/Display Control Manager integrated with the SCWS), further enhanced Blue Force Tracking Sensor, Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2), new NBC protection system, as well as optional TUSK I armor package (which would allow it to have the ARAT I ERA as a Tier IV modification). Beyond the U.S. Army, modified variants for export of the M1A1 SA are used by multiple nations like Ukraine, Iraq, Morocco, etc. As the latest model of M1A1 (besides the USMC M1A1 FEP), it should be placed just after the M1A1HC.
Thermal Sight Module on the SCWS, for the M1A1 SA.
In-game, these Abrams would play very close to the M1A1 AIM (Australian AF) Squadron vehicle but would differ in the following ways:
M1A1 SA has SCWS w/ the Thermal Sight Module (TSM) 2nd-generation thermals for the Commander (CITV) which was verified by the M1A1 SA-UKR and access to TUSK ARAT-I ERA while the M1A1 AIM does not (they all can technically use it but having the U.S. Army variant of the M1A1 AIM not having it differentiates it from the others).
M1A1 SA has 3rd-generation DU armor (same as M1A2 SEP/SEPv2).
M1A1 AIM has 2nd-generation DU armor (same as M1A1 HC) while the M1A1 AIM (ADF) has FMS armor inserts.
M1A1 SA can have access to all modern M829-variants while the M1A1 AIM can be locked to the M829A1 or maybe the M829A2 (the M1A1 AIM [ADF] could receive the KE-W A2 round).
