As global support for Ukraine builds up and many countries consider sending peacekeeping troops in the event of a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv, one important country has already backed out from committing boots on the ground, promising more Abrams tanks instead.
Following a heated exchange between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, during which the latter was mocked and reprimanded, global support, especially European, for Kyiv has been gaining momentum.
Several leaders, including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, supported Ukraine and assured continued support for the embattled country.
“We will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” he said at a press conference on February 28.
However, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Australian assistance will not include peacekeepers to patrol Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia.
Nevertheless, Australia will increase its supply of Abrams tanks to Ukraine as European leaders make a fresh push for a ceasefire following three years of conflict.
Australia’s Minister for Defense Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy, had announced in October 2024 that 49 M1A1s would be sent to Ukraine to bolster its fight against Vladimir Putin’s troops.
However, about five months later, the tanks are yet to be handed over to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
While the delivery is running behind schedule, the Federal government posited that it is sure that it will overcome the obstacles and deliver the military assistance to Ukraine.
Conroy said there were “technological limitations” in dispatching the tanks but this would not prevent their deployment. Australia has committed AUD 1.5 billion (US$940 million) for Ukraine, of which about AUD 245 million (US$152 million) is for its used Abrams. The US, which had initially sold the tanks to Australia, had approved their transfer to Ukraine last year.
The decision to transfer the M1A1 Abrams to Ukraine came as the Royal Australian Army plans to decommission these antiquated MBTs and swap them for the more modern M1A2 version, the delivery of which began late last year.
The original plan stated that the Australian Army would retain 10 of its 59 outdated Abrams tanks to help with the transition to the newer tanks. That number could be reduced if Australia sends more tanks to Kyiv. Intriguingly, the commitment for more tanks comes even as the war is inching closer to its end with discussions taking place between Moscow and Washington.
It is also pertinent to note that the reputation of the US-origin Abrams tanks — once hailed as a game-changer for Ukraine’s military — has been under scrutiny after a less than satisfactory performance showcased by it in the battlefield.
Abrams MBTs To Reach Ukraine, Says Australia
Ukraine has been operating the M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) for over a year.
In October 2023, following a long and persistent campaign by Ukrainian officials, it initially received 31 M1A1 Abrams MBTs from the US. The tanks, each costing approximately US$10 million, were believed to be essential for breaching Russian defensive lines.
However, the Abrams did not fare as well as was expected, despite the fact that these American war machines had wreaked havoc in the Iraq War.
Several of these tanks were obliterated by cheap Russian First Person View (FPV) drones that reportedly struck the Abrams tanks from angles such as the top or rear, where tank armor is most vulnerable.
According to previous reports, the M1A1s were mostly deployed near Avdiivka, a city in the eastern Donbas region that Russia captured after a protracted battle last year. Multiple tanks were destroyed in the city. Russia also managed to capture an unidentified number of these tanks, and at least one was displayed as a war trophy last year.
In April, several unidentified Pentagon officials told the Associated Press that Ukraine had temporarily pulled American-provided Abrams M1A1 battle tanks from the front line because it was too hard for Ukraine to operate without being noticed or attacked by Russian drone warfare.
In May, however, a Ukrainian tank crew reported that at least a few tanks were still being employed along the frontline.
Nonetheless, the Ukrainian crews responsible for maintaining these tanks told the media in summer last year that the lack of armor required to withstand modern weapons like drones left Ukrainian crews and soldiers vulnerable to attacks. The tank was intended for mobility warfare, but its shortcomings in Ukraine’s drone- and missile-heavy environment effectively made it useless, the crew noted.
In addition, the tanks experienced technical problems due to condensation, adversely affecting their electronic parts.
The crew also emphasized how unsuitable the Abrams were for Ukraine’s unique combat environment. They pointed out that Abrams is mainly designed for NATO wars, where air power and artillery are crucial for laying the groundwork before tanks and soldiers arrive.
Despite the shortcomings, these tanks were later deployed to Russia’s Kursk region where the Ukrainian troops launched a surprise offensive in August 2024. Last month, reports in Russian media suggested that one of these MBTs was destroyed in the Kursk region, along with a Norwegian-made NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system and its radar.
To improve the survivability of the remaining Abrams tanks, Ukraine equipped them with cope cages, or anti-drone armor screens, and slat armor. The modified Abrams tanks now feature comprehensive protection, including additional explosive reactive armor (ERA).
Images of several such improved Abrams have been displayed. In addition to the main screen installed atop the turret, several screens shielded the tank’s front, sides, and back. Additionally, some pictures displayed an armor screen fastened to the back of the hull.
The updated Abrams tanks also have additional ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) tiles on top of the US-standard M19 Abrams Reactive Armor Tiles (ARAT) along the sides of the hull. Additionally, Soviet-designed Kontakt-1 ERA tiles are now fitted on both sides of the front of the hull, with entire arrays affixed on the top and bottom.
Like the US Abrams, the Australian M1A1 Abrams will likely receive similar upgrades to increase their survivability and resilience in combat.
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