The U.S. Senate’s 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes $1.033 billion in funding to upgrade 89 Abrams tanks, announced U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH).
The tank upgrades will be done at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Lima, Ohio. The bill also includes $847 million for upgrading Stryker Vehicles and $392 million for modifying the Stryker A1 Vehicles. Further, $378.6 million was allocated to produce 72 Stryker chassis to support the Army’s Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) program.
“This funding is a big win for Lima and the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC), which supports our troops both at home and around the globe,” Portman said. “The newest version of the Abrams tank, the M1A2 SEPv3, is a vital investment for our soldiers to meet the realities highlighted in the latest National Defense Strategy, and they come off the line at JSMC in Lima. This funding will ensure that more tanks are produced at Lima and get to our forward deployed soldiers. This is a significant improvement when not long ago, the workforce was only funded for one tank per month. This is important for our armored formations and for Lima and its irreplaceable workforce.”
Portman has been an advocate for both Lima and the Abrams and Stryker programs.
“I am also pleased the NDAA will increase funding for producing Stryker A1 vehicles. This authorization will help provide long-term stability to the industrial base and ensure our soldiers are rapidly provided with the most capable and survivable vehicle coming off the line,” Portman added. “The Army has developed the M-SHORAD program to deal with the new, short range air defense threats on the modern battlefield. It is based off the highly capable Stryker platform that is produced in Lima. This is good news for the Army and the world-class workforce in Lima.”