美已就M1A2戰車報價給台灣

choi

洪哲政, 美已就M1A2戰車報價給台灣 我放棄改柴油引擎, 聯合報, Oct 2, 2018
https://udn.com/news/story/10930/3513563
(台 "計畫採購108輛M1A2戰車，陸軍一度主張，為求省油與補保便利，計畫將戰車原燃氣渦輪發機引擎改為柴油發動機。[after Taiwan forwent the change for reason stated at the end of this quotation] 美方已於10月就此案向我方提出報價（P&A），國防部刻正趕製LoR for LOA，要求美方提供發價書 [LOA]。  據了解，國防部編列採購預算通常是根據美方提供的粗估價（ Rough Order of Magnitude 或 ROM Cost），但我方要求將戰車燃氣渦輪主機改成柴油機，由於全世界將只有我國這108輛單一版本，而且還要給付研發測試經費，恐將大幅增加我採購成本，一度傳出我方將放棄原計劃，延用 [ie, 恢复] 燃氣渦輪主機")

Note:
(a) For Foreign Military Sales (FMS), see Foreign Customer Guide. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, US Department of Defense, July 2018, at pages 10-11
www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files ... _customer_guide.pdf
("FMS - What Happens First
     Defining Your Country's Requirements[:] Your government determines its security objectives based on its own unique situation and priorities. * * *
     The Letter of Request (LOR)[:] * * * There are three general types of LORs: 1. LOR for Price and Availability (P&A). * * * 2. LOR for a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA). & & & 3. LOR for a change to an already existing LOA. LORs are also used when you wish to request an Amendment or Modification to an existing LOA for which an FMS case has already been implemented. * * * ")
(b) It is Monday, Dec 3, 2018 at 7:30 pm EST. As of now, this is the only Chinese- pr English language news report on this, except the following.

文宇晴, 美再向台出售军备  逾百坦克巩固陆路防守. RFA, Dec 3, 2018.
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/ne ... 12032018082256.html
(c) M1 Abrams
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Abrams
(named for General Creighton Abrams; The M1 Abrams entered US service in 1980, ultimately replacing the M60 tank; Three main versions of the M1 Abrams have been deployed, the M1 [entering service in 1980], M1A1 [1986], and M1A2 [1992]
section 4 operators)

section 2 Design, section 2.3 Mobility, section 2.3.1 Tactical: "The turbine is very quiet when compared to diesel engines of similar power output and produces a significantly different sound from a contemporary diesel tank engine, reducing the audible distance of the sound, thus earning the Abrams the nickname 'whispering death' during its first Reforger exercise.

(i) The older model ceased production when the newer one entered service. For example, M! ceased production in 1985 and M1A1 in 1986. See section 3.2 Specifications of this Wiki page, which I verify.
(ii) Used by both US Army and Marine Corps, M1A2 is manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems.
(iii) The table of this Wiki page says, "Engine   Honeywell AGT1500C multi-fuel [gas] turbine engine."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeywell_AGT1500
(is the main powerplant of the M1 Abrams series of tanks; The engine can use a variety of fuels, including jet fuel, gasoline, diesel and Marine Diesel)

(d) The RFA report seems to suggest that US intends to sell Taiwan used M1A2 tanks )"美国前总统老布殊（George H W Bush）于2001年时曾答应对台湾出售，不过后来便没有下文。直至，美军在伊拉克与阿富汗的战事趋向缓和之际，时任的美国总统奥巴马政府，有意把部份多馀的M1A1或M1A2型号的坦克卖给台湾")
(i) Firstly it was George W Bush in 2001, not HW.
(ii) Secondly "后来便没有下文" is correct -- but that is because neither the Chen Shui-bian administration nor Ma Ying-jeou administration wanted it (not because US did not want to sell), as Taiwanese news media reported for the past year.
(iii) From those reports (news media in Taiwan), my impression is that Taiwan is buying new M1A2.