[Coming Soon] M1A1 AIM: Kangaroo in Steel

The Big and Medium Trophies contain a US MBT with unique armor and a powerful APFSDS round in Australian service.

Historical Note

In the late 1990s, Australia launched a program to replace its fleet of Leopard main battle tanks. The key requirement was that the selected vehicle be fully ready for operation in the country’s unique climatic and geographic conditions, without the need for lengthy or costly modifications. The competition was won by the American M1A1 Abrams, upgraded under the Abrams Integrated Management (AIM) program. This initiative overhauled and extensively modernized existing tanks, bringing their capabilities closer to those of the then-new M1A2 SEP standard.

The Australian military adopted the tank with virtually no changes to its design or armament. The only significant modification was the removal of depleted uranium inserts from the armor, which were replaced with materials offering similar ballistic protection. Deliveries of the M1A1 AIM began in September 2006. The fleet was later upgraded with the Tank Urban Survivability Kit (TUSK) and continues to serve as the backbone of Australia’s armored forces today.

M1A1 AIM (Rank XIII)

Brief Overview

Strong points: Excellent turret armor, effective APFSDS rounds, solid mobility, and blow-out panels for improved crew survivability.
Weak points: Vulnerable hull and a limited selection of shell types.
Role in battle: A versatile modern MBT suited for modern combat – fast, well-protected at the turret, and armed with powerful armor-piercing ammunition.

In battle

The M1A1 AIM is a modernized variant of the American Abrams tank currently in service with the Australian Army. This “American” in Australian service features a distinctive red kangaroo insignia and a new armor-piercing shell designed specifically for this series. Take a closer look at this latest addition arriving in the next War Thunder Mobile update.

The new M1A1 AIM is a strong option for both experienced players and those new to the Abrams series. The Australian modification uses a revised armor layout, with depleted uranium plates removed from the composite packages and replaced by conventional composite elements. Its ammunition selection has also changed. The tank carries two types of HEAT rounds for lightly armored targets, along with the KE-W Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) round. This APFSDS shell can penetrate virtually any opponent, often with a direct shot to the hull silhouette.

The M1A1 AIM is a versatile tank that combines strong firepower with excellent turret protection. Like other variants in the family, it features blow-out panels in the turret’s rear ammunition stowage to shield the crew in the event of an ammo detonation. This significantly enhances the vehicle’s overall survivability.

The vehicle’s main drawback is its relatively weak hull protection, a limitation common to most modern MBTs. However, the Abrams’ turret cheeks are exceptionally well armored, with a multi-layered protection system capable of stopping most incoming shells.

The M1A1 AIM is built for aggressive hull-down combat. Its key strengths are exceptional upper-hemisphere protection and a rapid-firing gun equipped with high-penetration rounds. Keep the hull concealed, use terrain to your advantage, and let the red kangaroo on your turret sweat from the speed of your assaults. Take it into battle and show them what this “Aussie” is capable of.

Premium version of the M1A1 AIM (Rank XIII)

The Premium variant is an extra tank for your hangar! The premium tank maintains the same performance as the standard variant, though it comes in a unique camouflage. With this premium tank you’ll be able to enjoy faster Silver Lion and Research Point gains, and earn some Golden Eagles in your battles.

If you’re lucky enough to unlock both the premium and the standard variants, you will be able to use them both in the same battle!

Premium version of the vehicle:

As a jackpot or as a random reward when attempting to open the Big Trophy.
By reaching the top-10 in the relevant Leaderboard.
From the Collector's Trophy after adding the vehicle to this trophy type;
In Special Offers.

Standard version of the vehicle:

As a jackpot or as a random reward when attempting to open the Medium Trophy.
Order vehicles for Silver Lions after collecting 1,000 blueprints.

Ways to get blueprints:

From the Medium Trophy: 700 pcs in the guaranteed reward, or 10 to 100 pcs per attempt.
From the Big Trophy: 700 pcs in the guaranteed reward, or 80 to 200 pcs per attempt.
In the in-game store: purchase for Silver Lions a Folder with a number of blueprints (even after the season ends).
In special offers.

*Vehicle specifications and camouflages are still work in progress and may differ on release.

The M1A1 AIM (Rank XIII) can be obtained in War Thunder Mobile (WTM) from Medium or Big Trophies in the Tank Campaign with the start of the new Season.