US Tank Crews to Train for Drone Defense Using 120mm Guns

U.S. Army tank crews operating Abrams tanks will now be trained to engage drones as part of an expanded battlefield role.

This information was published in a newly updated doctrine for tank platoons.

The revised instructions assign Abrams tanks an additional mission beyond anti-tank operations and infantry support, countering unmanned aerial threats during combat.

Under the new guidance, if a drone is detected in the vicinity of a tank unit, crews are instructed to open fire using all available weaponry, including the main cannon and machine guns.

The use of the 120mm main gun is specifically directed to involve M1028 canister rounds, designed to disperse shrapnel over a wide area.

The manual offers targeting advice, noting that crews should aim at drones at a distance of roughly “half a football field,” or about 54.5 meters, and slightly above the drone’s fuselage.

The concept of using tanks to engage aerial targets is not new. Abrams tanks have long included the M830A1 multi-purpose round in their ammunition load, which uses a proximity fuze to engage low-flying aircraft and helicopters.

Previously, the U.S. Army announced it would replace incremental upgrades under the System Enhancement Package (SEP) with a new M1E3 Abrams variant aimed at more comprehensive modernization.