The M98A1E1 is based on the M98A1 MBT, but with many upgrades and modifications. Composite armor replaces steel armor, providing much better protection with approximately the same weight. Armor additions to the front and sides of the turret vastly improve armor protection and survivability. Turret neck armor has been applied to resist shot trap action. Reactive armor has been applied to the lower plate of the hull and the rear of the turret to aid in defence against HEAT warheads. The gun has been improved with a longer barrel, allowing for better range and far superior muzzle velocity. A machine gun with a very high fire rate has been added to the top of the turret for anti aircraft uses. All of these modifications don't come without problems however. Gun depression angles have been negatively impacted, as well as reload time. Turret traverse and overall mobility has decreased slightly, as well as the longer barrel making urban combat more challenging. The many overall improvements make the M98A1E1 much more of a monster than it's predecessor.