The Tank Urban Survival Kit (TUSK) was developed to improve survivability and situational awareness when operating in the close confines of a city. Introduced in 2006, the TUSK’s (in one form or another) found their way to all tanks fielded in Iraq by 2008.
The TUSK includes add-on explosive reactive armor fitted to the side skirts and turret, and slat armor to the hull rear. These enhancements provide protection against RPG rounds. There is also a full length slab of spaced armor mounted to the hull underneath the tank to better protect the crew from IED threats and mines.
Other improvements include additional defensive grenade/smoke dischargers, armored glass shielding for the vehicle commander and loader when manning their respective machine guns, and a new remotely controlled 12.7-mm machine coaxial gun & accompanying spotlight fitted over the main gun. This machine gun is a counter sniper weapon. It fires single rounds or in full-auto mode and is aimed using the main gun. A third machine gun station sporting a 7.62-mm gun with armored glass and thermal sights has been added to the turret.
To improve situational awareness, the TUSK provides the commander with a 360 degree camera monitor within the turret, and the driver’s station is fitted with a new safety seat and rear vision camera. Nearby infantry can communicate with the tank commander via an infantry phone attached to the rear of the vehicle. Together, all active versions of the Abrams tank (M1A1, M1A2 or M1A2 SEP) equipped with this kit have become even more lethal to the enemy, regardless of where they are encountered.
