Australian Army Repaints Abrams Tank for Opposing-Force Training Exercise

The Australian Army School of Armor published photos of one M1A2 Abrams tank modified to represent a People’s Liberation Army Type 99 main battle tank. Soldiers from B Squadron, 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment prepared the vehicle at the Puckapunyal Military Area in Victoria for use as an opposing-force platform.

The tank carries a four-color digital camouflage scheme with prominent bright-green blocks applied over the standard three-tone pattern.

Dummy external fuel tanks are mounted on the rear of the turret, and the slogan “Bing Chilling” appears on the turret side. ” The modified Abrams forms part of the Opposing Force element for the Royal Australian Armored Corps Officer Basic Course. The course ends with Exercise Tungsten Forge/Gauntlet Strike 2026, a combined-arms tactical event.

An Abrams and an M113 recently conducted integrated training in preparation for the exercise. Australia is acquiring 75 M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks under the roughly $2.5-billion LAND 907 Phase 2 program. The U.S.

Government approved the Foreign Military Sales case in 2021, and the first vehicles arrived in 2024. Australia had previously obtained 59 second-hand M1A1 Abrams tanks and later agreed to supply 49 of those older tanks to Ukraine. The School of Armor noted that multiple in-service armored fighting vehicles have been adapted for opposing-force duties.

After the exercise concludes, the tank can be returned to standard configuration.