21 MARCH 2023
On Tuesday, Patrick Ryder, US Department of Defence spokesman, confirmed that Ukraine will receive an older modification of American Abrams tanks – this will speed up their shipment and acquisition by the Ukrainian military personnel.
Source: European Pravda, Ryder’s statement at a briefing for journalists, quoted by CNN.
“After further study and analysis on how best to do this, DoD in close coordination with Ukraine has made the decision to provide the M1A1 variant of the Abrams tank, which will enable us to submit significantly expedite delivery timelines and deliver this important capability to Ukraine by the fall of this year,” he said.
According to the Pentagon’s representative, the United States will also provide Ukraine with “modern armoured vehicles and weapons systems” that are “very similar in capabilities” to the M1A2 Abrams tank, particularly .50 cal. heavy machine guns and 120 mm guns.
As American officials explained their comments the day before, it will be easier for Ukrainian troops to learn to use and maintain an older tank model.
Initially, the United States planned to send Ukraine 31 newer M1A2 Abrams tanks, which could take a year or two to produce and deliver.
The Biden administration announced its intention to send tanks to Ukraine in January. They took this step after months of insisting that the tanks were too complex and challenging to maintain and repair.
The decision was part of a broader political manoeuvre that prompted Germany to announce the shipment of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and let Poland and other allies do the same.
Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Why was this decision not made right away? It’s the best option and the most logical one. Waiting a year for delivery was completely ludicrous and useless to boot. The older tanks could’ve already been taken out of their mothballs by now. This decision is not only faster, but by far, much cheaper.
The Biden administration doesn’t work in mysterious ways, it works backwards.
Without a doubt though, Biden is the best supporter Ukraine has.
I’m reading the tanks will be M1A1 SA which would mean the enhanced armor if true.
I do worry about the UK’s sending depleted uranium shells. The link to subsequent birth defects seems serious.
Yes, they are the ones with the better armor, but they will get to Ukraine in the fall. Ridiculous!
I doubt that the battlefields will be covered with masses of DU fragments to cause a disaster. At least, the disaster will be much smaller than having cockroaches permanently in the country.