Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Ukrainian crews working on U.S.-supplied Abrams tanks have reported that the armor is failing due to a series of weaknesses, according to CNN.
The U.S. has provided Ukraine with Abrams tanks, specifically the M1A1 models, as part of its military aid to support Kyiv's efforts against Russian forces. The delivery of these tanks, each costing around $10 million, was announced in January 2023. President Joe Biden highlighted the tanks' advanced capabilities, which require significant logistical support and maintenance that the U.S. has committed to providing.
However, these tanks have encountered significant challenges on the battlefield, mainly due to Russian drone warfare tactics. The drones have made it increasingly difficult for the tanks to operate without being detected and targeted, resulting in the withdrawal of the hardware from the front lines to prevent further losses.
According to The Associated Press, five of the 31 American Abrams tanks sent to Ukraine since January 2023 have already been lost to Russian action.
On Wednesday, CNN reported that Ukrainian crews who trained in Germany emphasized the difficulties, stating that the vehicles lacked armor capable of stopping modern weapons. "Its armor is not sufficient for this moment," said one crew member with the call sign Joker. "It doesn't protect the crew. For real, today this is the war of drones. So now, when the tank rolls out, they always try to hit them."
Last September, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a press briefing, "There is no panacea, no single weapon that can change the balance of power on the battlefield."
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