US soldiers from 1-12 Cavalry Regiment have taken part in a multinational live-fire exercise in Lithuania, where an M1A3 Abrams tank fired its main gun during joint training at Pabradė Training Area.
According to the U.S. Army, the December 2 drill focused on developing crew-level skills, improving target engagement, and building effective interoperability with allied forces positioned along NATO’s eastern flank. Officials said these joint live-fire events help generate combat-credible readiness and increase the lethality of armoured crews operating in coalition environments.
The exercise comes as Pabradė continues to undergo significant upgrades. Lithuania has invested heavily in the site, with new barracks, maintenance facilities, dining halls, fitness centres and expanded logistical infrastructure now supporting a long-term US and NATO presence. The improvements follow a multiyear effort to ensure the area can host sustained armour and mechanised rotations.
The Abrams, weighing approximately 68 tons, features a 120mm XM256 smoothbore cannon, a 7.62mm M240 coaxial machine gun, and a .50 calibre M2 machine gun. Powered by a 1,500-horsepower gas turbine engine, the tank can reach speeds of up to 42 miles per hour and travel up to 265 miles on a single tank of fuel.
Designed by General Dynamics Land Systems, the tank incorporates advanced thermal imaging, computerised fire control, and the Inter-Vehicle Information System, which enables real-time coordination and communication between vehicles. This system enhances situational awareness and command efficiency, allowing units to automatically track friendly and enemy positions and transmit operational data across the battlefield.
The live-fire drills form part of the U.S. Army’s effort to maintain “combat-credible forces” across Europe and strengthen interoperability with NATO allies. U.S. officials said such exercises increase readiness and demonstrate the ability of forward-deployed American units to respond rapidly to potential threats along NATO’s eastern frontier.
