Textron Lycoming AGT1500 Engine Operational and Support Cost Reduction

An aggressive program to significantly reduce the sustainment cost of the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank Powertrain was initiated by the Army Material Command (AMC) in 1985. The powerpack (engine and transmission) sustainment cost had been calculated by the Army to be twenty-one percent (21%) of the total M1 sustainment cost with the engine accounting for fourteen percent (14%) of the total. Although this figure was considerably less than the original assumption of thirty percent (30%) for the engine alone, the cost was considered significant. In order to achieve the Army mandated fifty percent (50%) savings on sustainment cost, Textron Lycoming pursued an aggressive reliability improvement program recognizing the potential to increase operational readiness while decreasing future operational and support cost. A major milestone was achieved by 1988 when the powerpack sustainment cost was calculated to be ten percent (10%) of the total M1 sustainment cost. In 1989, a study conducted by Textron Lycoming concluded that additional and substantial operational and support cost reductions could be realized by addressing and improving the engine’s field maintenance concept and its application.