M1 Abrams may not reach Ukraine this year - US Army needs more than a year to find the tanks

The US Army is looking for ways to bring the M1 Abrams to Ukraine. According to new reports, the Ukrainian Armed Forces may not receive the tanks in 2023.

Here's What We Know

US President Joe Biden said in January 2023 that the US would provide Ukraine with 31 M1 Abrams main battle tanks from General Dynamics Land Systems. But deliveries will not begin soon.

Christine Wormuth, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Army, said it is not a matter of weeks or a couple of months. She added that deliveries will take less than two years, and even less than a year and a half. Whether Abrams will reach Ukraine by the end of 2023 remains an open question.

Wormuth said there are different ways to provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with tanks. It could be either building M1 Abrams from scratch, as in the case of Poland, or sending combat vehicles from US stocks after modernization.

There is also a third option. It consists of sending tanks to Ukraine that have been ordered by other states. However, Christine Wormuth added that this could spoil relations with allies.

The final decision will be made by the US president. The US Army will explore different options and pass them on to Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. The Pentagon chief will then pass them on to Joe Biden, who will make the final decision.

Source: Defence News