United States' Abrams tanks provided to Poland are soon to encounter difficulties with servicing, according to Poland's official announcement.
Poland is set to establish an authorized service center for the AGT1500C engines used in American Abrams tanks, partnering with Honeywell, the company that manufactures these engines. This move is a significant step towards localizing maintenance capabilities for these turboshaft engines.
However, the process is complex and time-consuming. The AGT1500C engines require specialized industrial maintenance at the level of certified aircraft factories, known as Depot Level maintenance. This was not anticipated when Poland purchased 366 Abrams tanks, resulting in a service gap. Consequently, Poland faces difficulties servicing engines until the new authorized center is operational. It is expected that Poland will only have the necessary facilities and certifications by around 2028; until then, engine repairs must be conducted in the United States.
The key steps for Poland include finalizing and implementing the agreement with Honeywell, building specialized industrial infrastructure compliant with aircraft engine maintenance standards, training technical personnel to meet certification requirements for Depot Level maintenance, and relying on U.S.-based maintenance in the short term while the authorized center is prepared and operational.
This scenario highlights a common pattern in U.S. arms sales, where local maintenance infrastructure lags behind acquisition, necessitating long-term collaboration with the manufacturer for full sustainment support.
Negotiations are underway with Honeywell to establish an authorized service center for Abrams engines in Poland. The absence of a service center in Poland for Abrams engines is a challenging task, given that there are no such facilities in Europe for Abrams engine servicing. The American Abrams tanks in question are equipped with AGT1500C aviation turboprop engines, and repairs are currently being carried out in the US for Polish Abrams engines.
The military has declared the Abrams tanks transferred to Ukraine as useless due to the lack of service centers for their engines outside the US. Establishing such a facility in Poland is a challenging task, but it is necessary to ensure the operational capability of the tanks transferred to Ukraine.
The maintenance of Abrams engines is similar to that of helicopter engines, considering factors like mileage, number of starts, and work cycles. Abrams engine maintenance requires certified aviation plant-level maintenance, which is currently only available in the US.
In summary, the establishment of an authorized service center for Abrams engines in Poland is a crucial step towards ensuring the long-term sustainment of the Abrams tanks in Poland's inventory and those transferred to Ukraine. The process is complex, but with the partnership with Honeywell, Poland is taking a significant step towards self-sufficiency in maintaining these critical pieces of military equipment.
What industry is Poland partnering with Honeywell from for the establishment of an authorized service center? finance
What type of engines does Poland's newly established authorized service center specialize in? aerospace
