US Army finally decides on scheme to send M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine

Joe Biden said in January 2023 that the US would send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. However, it is not certain that deliveries will start before the end of 2023. On the other hand, it is encouraging that the US Army has decided on a tank transfer scheme.

Here's What We Know

Christine Wormuth, a spokeswoman for the US Army, said last month that the shipment of tanks to Ukraine is not a matter of a couple of weeks or months. The M1 Abrams will reach Ukraine in less than two years, she said, but it is unlikely to happen in 2023.

The army was considering several schemes to provide Ukraine with its tanks. One option was to produce the M1 Abrams from scratch. The second option was to send tanks from stockpiles with preliminary modernization. The third option was to transfer combat vehicles destined for other customers.

US Army spokesman Doug Bush confirmed that the US Army has finally decided on a plan to deliver tanks to Ukraine. The service has already started implementing it, but the details are kept secret.

Bush stressed that the provision of tanks was a complicated procedure. The USA cannot simply send M1 Abrams to Ukraine, as they would be unfit for service. Along with the tanks, Ukraine must receive ammunition, evacuation and other equipment, maintenance supplies and fuel, and the crews must undergo training. In parallel, the shipment of tanks to Ukraine should not adversely affect the combat effectiveness of the US Army and the supply of equipment to allies.

Source: Defence News