The Avco-Lycoming AGT1500 is an American gas turbine engine that represents a radical departure from traditional armoured vehicle propulsion, marking the transition from the era of reciprocating piston engines to the high-performance world of gas turbines. Developed specifically to power the Chrysler XM1 Abrams, the AGT1500 utilizes an axial-centrifugal compressor design that allows for a compact, lightweight power plant capable of generating a staggering 1,500 horsepower. Mechanically, its most distinctive feature is its ability to run on a multi-fuel diet, ranging from diesel and kerosene to high-octane gasoline, providing immense logistical flexibility. Despite early criticisms regarding its high fuel consumption and obvious thermal signature, the AGT1500's effectiveness proves that the future of armoured warfare lays in aerospace-grade engineering.
