GD Land Systems has been awarded a contract to convert 15 of Saudi Arabia’s M1A1 tanks into the M1A2S model.

The contract is an addition to a $58m contract originally awarded in 2008 to design, develop, convert, implement and test a hybrid configuration of the M1A1, M1A2 and M1A2 System Enhancement Package tank variants.

The M1A2S vehicles will possess defined capabilities that increase lethality while limiting obsolescence.

Work will be carried out at the company’s Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio, US, with an estimated date for completion of 31 March 2012.

The US Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command awarded the $19m contract on behalf of the Royal Saudi Land Forces.