A report suggests the 49 used Abrams tanks are considered vulnerable to Russian drone attacks.
Australia is set to ship 49 retired, US-made M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, having received the go-ahead from the US. However, reports indicate that both American and Australian officials have voiced misgivings about the transfer, questioning Ukraine’s ability to effectively utilize the tanks due to logistical hurdles and their susceptibility to Russian drones.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese informed Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in Rome on Sunday that deliveries have commenced. ABC reports that the tanks are being loaded onto a cargo ship, but details regarding the location and route are confidential.
While the US ultimately approved the transfer, ABC reported that US officials have privately expressed “frustration” with the decision.
An anonymous US official told the network, “Last year, even before Donald Trump returned as president, we warned the Australians that sending these Abrams tanks would be complicated, and once they finally get to the battlefield, the Ukrainians will find them difficult to sustain.”
Australian defense officials reportedly share these concerns. According to an ABC source, “We are starting to doubt if the Ukrainians actually want these vehicles. The tank roof is the weakest point of the Abrams and this is a drone war.”
In late 2023, the US, under then-President Joe Biden, provided Ukraine with 31 Abrams tanks. News outlets have reported that these tanks, estimated at $10 million apiece, have encountered difficulties in combat, including drone strikes and challenging terrain.
Russia has claimed the destruction of multiple Abrams tanks. In May 2024, a captured tank was displayed at a Moscow military expo alongside other captured Western military equipment.
Moscow has condemned the West’s arms shipments to Ukraine, asserting they will only prolong the conflict without altering its ultimate outcome.
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