TUSK stands for “Tank Urban Survival Kit,” and represents the American approach to the problem of employing tanks in urban situations where weapons elevation, protection placement, and other design elements aren’t designed to cope with key threats.
M1A1, M1A2, M1A2 SEP
The TUSK includes add-on explosive reactive armor, fitted to side skirts. It provides protection against RPG rounds. A slat armor is added to the hull rear. It also provides protection against RPG rounds.
Additionally this tank is fitted with 32 dischargers for 66-mm defensive grenades. These dischargers are loaded with a combination of smoke and anti-personnel grenades. Previously US Army tanks were fitted only with 12 grenade dischargers.
Vehicle commander has got a transparent shielding around his 12.7-mm machine gun. The latest M1A2 SEP tanks are fitted with remotely controlled weapon station, armed with a 12.7-mm machine gun. It is controlled by the vehicle commander from inside of the turret. So vehicle commander is no longer exposed to enemy fire. Loader uses a shielded 7.62-mm machine gun. The loader has also got a thermal weapon sight. Now he can locate targets and fire from his machine gun at night.
The tank is fitted with one more remotely controlled 12.7-mm machine gun over the main gun. It is fitted with a spotlight. This machine gun is referred as counter sniper and anti-material weapon. It fires single shots or in full-auto mode. It is aimed using the main gun.
There is also a 7.62-mm coaxial machine gun. So in total the tank has got for machine guns.
Vehicle commander has got a 360 degree camera. It improves situational awareness. The driver is fitted with new safety sear and rear vision camera.
The tank is fitted with an infantry phone. It allows the nearby infantry to communicate with the tank commander and coordinate their actions in combat.
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