Forever Wars: Kuwait gets new Special-K M1A2 Abrams!

When did Kuwait first start using the M1A2? Way back in August 1994, it was reported that Kuwait got the first of 2-hundred-18 M1A2 Abrams battle tanks. Back then it was reported that they cost $5-million each, and the deal was done through the U.S. taxpayer subsidized Foreign Military Sales program.

Remember, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s own website states that Foreign Military Sales are “…funded by country national funds or U.S. Government funds.”

In December 2016, Kuwait wanted additional M1A2s to cannibalize (officially called ‘recapitalization’) for parts for their aging M1A2 fleet. The order also included new 120mm main guns, new M2HB .50 caliber (12mm NATO) machine guns, M240 7.62mm NATO machine guns, and new turbine engines.

Then one year later, it was revealed that on top of the taxpayer subsidized Foreign Military Sale of additional M1A2s, Kuwait was about to get a special K version of the M1A2! The new M1A2K was supposed to be ready by 2019-20, but then some False Flag operation called The Pandemic happened.

Kuwaiti M1A2s. Task Force Spartan photo by Master Sergeant Matthew Keeler, 23FEB2023.

In July 2021, it was revealed that Kuwait finally began receiving its new M1A2K Abrams .

Task Force Spartan photo by Master Sergeant Matthew Keeler, 23FEB2023.

Externally, the M1A2K looks like the M1A2SEP with remote controlled Tank Commander’s (TC) weapon system, and an external cooling and auxiliary electrical power generator mounted in the bustle rack on the back of the turret.

Kuwaiti Land Forces photo, July 2021.

One promotional photo shows an M1A2K with an additional .50 cal machine gun mounted on the main-gun-mantlet, ‘Israeli’ style, as well as a possible .50 cal mounted on the gun-ring of the Loader’s hatch.

Kuwaiti Land Forces photo, July 2021.

‘In the field’ photos of the M1A2K shows the standard M240 machine gun at the Loader’s station, no .50 cal mounted on the main-gun-mantlet but there is a machine gun mount present. Perhaps the only visual identifier is the .50 cal machine gun mount on the main-gun-mantlet?