M1A2 Abrams tank seen before a high-intensity training sessionArtur Widak/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesThe US Army wants to modernize Abrams tank while cutting at least 20,000 pounds from its weight.Upgrades to the new M1E3 Abrams could include an autoloader, stealth tech, and a new main gun.But the Abrams' bulkiest features are the armor and protective systems that make it so formidable.A new contract decision is moving the US military's world-class Abrams tank in a direction it's never gone before: after decades of getting bulkier amid upgrades to add firepower and cutting-edge protection, it's finally getting a critically needed slim-down.Defense News was first to report at the end of May that the Army had awarded a contract to Abrams manufacturer General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) to start developing requirements for what it's calling the M1E3 — a new generation of Abrams tank.Reached for details on the contract, GDLS referred all questions to the Army's PEO Ground Combat Systems, which did not respond to Sandboxx News' queries.