Editing M1 Abrams (section)

====Aiming====
[[File:DOD_108011149.webm|thumb|right|Locations of the gunner's sights and other components on a U.S. Army M1A2 Abrams (video)]]
[[File:M1A2 Abrams Thermal Sight.jpg|thumb|View through an M1A2 Abrams' thermal optic]]
The Abrams is equipped with a ballistic [[fire-control system|fire-control computer]] that uses user and system-supplied data from a variety of sources to compute, display, and incorporate the three components of a ballistic solution—lead angle, ammunition type, tube wear, propellant temperature, wind speed, air temperature, the relative motions of the target and the Abrams, and range to the target—to accurately fire the main gun.{{sfn|Green|Stewart|2005|p=77}} These three components are determined using a [[laser rangefinder]], crosswind sensor, a [[pendulum]] static cant sensor, data concerning performance and flight characteristics of each specific type of round, tank-specific boresight alignment data, ammunition temperature, air temperature, barometric pressure, a muzzle reference system (MRS) that determines and compensates for barrel drop at the muzzle due to gravitational pull and barrel heating due to firing or sunlight, and target speed determined by tracking rate tachometers in the Gunner's or Commander's Controls Handles.

All of these factors are computed into a ballistic solution and updated 30 times per second. The updated solution is displayed in the Gunner's or Tank Commander's field of view in the form of a reticle in both day and thermal modes.<ref name="M1A1 FCS">{{cite report |last1=Leu |first1=Michael |last2=Irwin |first2=Alan |last3=William |first3=Weil |last4=Jerome |first4=Hahn |title=Battlefield Management And Fire Control System for M1A1|date=15 February 1986 |pages=5–6, 5–11 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA182331.pdf |access-date=1 January 2024}}</ref> The ballistic computer manipulates the turret and a complex arrangement of mirrors so that all one has to do is keep the reticle on the target and fire to achieve a hit. Proper lead and gun tube elevation are applied to the turret by the computer, greatly simplifying the job of the gunner.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}

[[File:DA-SD-06-06814.jpg|thumb|left|A soldier assisting in the critical job of "boresighting" the alignment of all the tank's sights to the center of the axis of the bore of the main gun on an M1A1 Abrams in [[Mosul]], Iraq, in January 2005.{{refn|group=nb|name=Hand signals|Hand signals enable the gunner inside the tank to train the main gun onto a boresighting target.}}]]
The fire control system on the M1 and M1A1 variants is the [[Computing Devices Canada]] ballistic computer system.{{sfn|Cullen|Foss|1997|p=343}} On the M1A2 the Fire Control Electronics Unit is manufactured by GDLS.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hammick |first1=Murray |title=Abrams M1A2 |work=International Defense Review |issue=9 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |date=1990 |location=Surrey |page=1045}}</ref> The laser designator is a [[Hughes Aircraft Company|Hughes]] model.{{sfn|Cullen|Foss|1997|p=447}} This fire control system uses this data to compute a [[firing solution]] for the gunner. The ballistic solution generated ensures a hit percentage greater than 95&nbsp;percent at nominal ranges.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} Either the commander or gunner can fire the main gun. Additionally, the Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) on the M1A2 can be used to locate targets and pass them on for the gunner to engage while the commander scans for new targets.

If the primary sight system malfunctions or is damaged, the main and coaxial weapons can be manually aimed using a telescopic scope [[Boresight (firearm)|boresighted]] to the main gun known as the Gunner's Auxiliary Sight (GAS). The GAS has two interchangeable [[reticle]]s; one for HEAT and ''multi-purpose anti-tank'' (MPAT) ammunition and one for APFSDS and ''Smart Target-Activated Fire and Forget'' (STAFF) ammunition. Turret traverse and main gun elevation can be performed with manual handles and cranks if the ''fire control'' or ''hydraulic'' systems fail.

The commander's M2HB .50&nbsp;caliber machine gun on the M1 and M1A1 is aimed by a 3× magnification sight incorporated into the Commander's Weapon Station (CWS), while the M1A2 uses the machine gun's own [[iron sights]], or a remote aiming system such as the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) system when used as part of the Tank Urban Survival Kit. The loader's M240 machine gun is aimed either with the built-in iron sights or with a thermal scope mounted on the machine gun.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}

[[File:The Abrams Integrated Display and Targeting System, or AIDATS,.jpg|thumb|Abrams Integrated Display and Targeting System (AIDATS) on a USMC M1A1.]]
In late 2017, the 400 USMC M1A1 Abrams were to be upgraded with better and longer-range sights on the Abrams Integrated Display and Targeting System (AIDATS) replacing the black-and-white camera view with a color sight and day/night thermal sight, simplified handling with a single set of controls, and a slew to cue button that repositions the turret with one command. Preliminary testing showed the upgrades reduced target engagement time from six seconds to three by allowing the commander and gunner to work more closely and collaborate better on target acquisition.<ref>[http://www.dodbuzz.com/2016/08/23/abrams-tank-upgrades-will-give-marines-killer-edge/ Abrams Tank Upgrades Will Give Marines 'Killer Edge'] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824062936/http://www.dodbuzz.com/2016/08/23/abrams-tank-upgrades-will-give-marines-killer-edge/ |date=24 August 2016}} – DoDBuzz.com, 23 August 2016</ref><ref>[https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/articles/marines-m1a1-tanks-are-about-to-get-even-more-awesome Marines' M1A1 tanks: How an upgrade will help make them more lethal] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827201232/https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/articles/marines-m1a1-tanks-are-about-to-get-even-more-awesome |date=27 August 2016}} – MarineCorpstimes.com, 26 August 2016</ref>