The UK’s Pearson Engineering has been contracted under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mechanism to supply 99 engineering capability kits for US M1A2 SEP V3 Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs) being sold to Poland, the company announced on 11 March 2025.
The engineering capability kits, which comprise track width mine ploughs and combat dozer blades, will be integrated via Pearson Engineering’s SLICE vehicle interface kit, which is designed to enable armoured vehicles to rapidly accept and operate a wide range of front-end equipment (FEE) to facilitate independent battlefield manoeuvre. SLICE does not require any modification to the vehicle based on a novel plug-and-play approach that does not affect vehicle lethality or survivability.
A Polish request for 250 M1A2 SEP V3 MBTs under the FMS regime was approved by the US State Department in February 2022, with the first 28 of these arriving in Poland in January 2025.
Regarding the Polish engineering capability kits, Pearson Engineering explained the rationale for their adoption in its 11 March press release.
“The demand to support independent manoeuvre for main battle tanks and other fighting vehicles comes as the battlespace becomes increasingly contested over broader stretches of terrain. Dedicated engineering vehicles, whilst offering important specialist capability, cannot be everywhere at all times, forcing commanders to make choices based on asset availability rather than best tactical opportunity,” the company explained. “By providing independent mobility, counter-mobility and survivability options to those operating fighting vehicles, commanders are able to move to places of their choosing to overcome their adversaries. This leaves dedicated combat engineers to undertake the most specialist and dangerous tasks that support overall strategic main effort, creating safe routes for convoys, laying assault bridging and tackling complex obstacles.”
“This is an important contract for Pearson Engineering as we look to extend our support to the operators of various vehicle types,” Richard Beatson, Pearson Engineering’s business development director, was quoted as saying by the company. “Pearson Engineering will always be the home of the combat engineer and we’re investing heavily in the next generation of capability to support specialist requirements. We also know that agility and flexibility is key when undertaking land manoeuvre operations. By enabling interoperability of FEE via SLICE, we hope that armed forces can deliver an overall improved engineer effect that provides the battle winning advantage.”
Pearson Engineering has previously supplied a wide range of FEE for US AFVs, including the M1 MBT, the M1 MBT-based M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV), the Stryker Engineer Support Vehicle and a number of mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles.
