- TANK USES DIESEL ENGINE FOR THE FIRST TIME -

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. -- General Dynamics Land Systems operated an M1A2 Abrams tank using a diesel engine Wednesday at its Sterling Heights, Michigan headquarters.

This is the first time the M1A2 Abrams tank was powered by a diesel engine - it's normally equipped with a gas turbine engine. The diesel engine tank is aimed at potential export sales in Turkey and Greece.

Land Systems will run five weeks of shakedown testing on the Europack, an MTU-883 1500 hp diesel engine with a RENK 295TM transmission, with the tank at Sterling Heights. Testing includes serpentine steering, pivot steers, acceleration tests, and increasing speed with increasing radius turning. The test plan goal of 20 hours of operation and 100 miles with the new engine and transmission will validate the automotive integration of the Europack diesel on the tank.

Field trials of the Europak equipped tank are scheduled in mid-July at Milford Lake test track in Michigan. There the tank will undergo mobility performance testing on slopes and grades, additional acceleration and pivot steering tests, and cross country movement. The goal of this testing is to accumulate an additional 40 hours of operation and 150 miles using the Europack diesel.

The diesel engine is built by Motoren- und Turbien-Union Munchen GmbH in Munich, Germany and the transmission is built by RENK, AG in Augsburg, Germany.

General Dynamics Land Systems, a division of General Dynamics Corporation, is a world leader in the development, production, and support of armored vehicles and electronic systems. Its 3,400 employees operate plants and facilities in seven states and at three international locations. More information about General Dynamics Land Systems can be found on the Internet at www.gdls.com.

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LS-97-12
6/16/97