The M23A1(MBT) Chariot is one of four planned vehicles derived from the M23 Chariot Family of Heavy Tracked Combat Vehicles, to replace the M3 Avenger family and the M5 Victoria heavy main battle tank and supplement the M6 Ardent main battle tank. The M23 designation itself reserved for the base hull, with subsequent variations using an "AX" suffix. The M23A1 is armed with a 120mm Coilgun M5A8, a longer-barreled variant of the 120mm M5A7 used on the Ardent. It is mounted in an unmanned turret, fed by a shelf-and-rack autoloader.

It is manned by a crew of three, located in an armored capsule in the hull: commander, gunner, and driver, although such titles are merely formal since all three stations are identical, derived from the XM20 prototype tank destroyer. This means that a single person is able to operate the tank, although such capability would only be used in emergencies. It's frontal hull armor is identical in performance to the Victoria.