The United States is planning to deliver the first batch of Abrams heavy tanks to Ukraine in September, in a bid to support Ukraine in its ongoing offensive. Previously, the deployment of these tanks was estimated to take place “sometime in the fall,” according to the Pentagon. Politico reported that the first few tanks will be sent to Germany in August for final refurbishments before being shipped to Ukraine the following month. It is expected that six to eight tanks will be included in the initial delivery, with a total of 31 tanks pledged by the US.
The decision to provide Abrams tanks to Ukraine was made by President Joe Biden in January, as a way to urge Germany to provide Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. However, while Ukraine has lost over a dozen Leopard tanks in heavy fighting, the US tanks are yet to be deployed. Ukrainian tankers are currently undergoing training on how to use the Abrams tanks at the US Army base in Grafenwoehr, Germany. The training course is expected to be completed in August, as confirmed by a Pentagon official.
The process of providing the tanks to Ukraine has faced some logistical challenges. Initially, the Pentagon planned to deploy the more modern M1A2 variants, but later changed the plan to the older M1A1 models. Before being sent to Ukraine, the tanks need to undergo refurbishment, which involves stripping them of sensitive technology that the US fears might be captured by Russia. This includes the removal of fire control systems and the depleted uranium armor.
In addition to providing tanks, the US is working with NATO allies to establish heavy maintenance repair facilities for the Abrams tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles that have already been delivered to Ukraine. These facilities will help ensure that the vehicles can be properly maintained, especially in the event of battle damage. So far, about half of the promised 190 Bradleys have been delivered to Ukraine, but many have been destroyed in the fighting, with Ukrainian troops resorting to cannibalizing damaged vehicles for spare parts.
Since the escalation of hostilities with Russia in February 2022, the US and its allies have provided Ukraine with over $100 billion worth of weapons, ammunition, and equipment. However, they maintain that they are not directly involved in the conflict. Russia, on the other hand, has repeatedly stated that the delivery of Western weapons will not alter the course of the conflict, and it argues that the military aid to Ukraine effectively makes NATO a party to the conflict.
Prior to President Biden’s announcement in January, Western tank deliveries to Ukraine consisted mainly of Polish, Czech, and Slovak T-72 tanks. Since then, Ukraine has received various models of the German-made Leopard tanks and 14 British Challenger 2 tanks, which have yet to be deployed in the battlefield. Both the Leopard and Challenger tanks are significantly heavier than Ukraine’s initial T-64 and T-72 fleet.
The Abrams tank, weighing over 70 tons and powered by a gas turbine engine, was developed in the 1970s and first saw combat in the 1991 Gulf War. It has since been sold to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Morocco, Iraq, and Australia in stripped-down export versions.
The delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine is part of the continued effort by the US and its allies to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The tanks are expected to enhance Ukraine’s defensive capabilities and bolster its position on the battlefield.
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