Marine friends tell me the M1A1SA is produced for export only and isn’t quite the same as the M1A2 the US employs for reasons that don’t need explaining.
In the 1980s, I met a Lebanese man who sold weapons to just about everybody, often with the unofficial blessing of Western governments. They found it useful to know who was getting what, especially if it was high-end equipment (by Third World standards) like British Chieftain tanks and HK rifles. There were rumors he was providing lists of equipment and parts sold to friendly and unfriendly nations (as well as readiness status) to NATO and Israel.
Better that than the latest Merkavas.
I figured with that designation the machines didn’t have the best armor or target systems.
Some things still remain a little sane.