Ukrainian soldiers have acknowledged the weaknesses and shortcomings of the US-supplied Abrams tanks in combat.
In January 2023, President Joe Biden announced the transfer of 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. This move was seen as a way to pressure other NATO countries to send more German-made Leopard tanks.
However, the tanks arrived later than expected, missing Ukraine’s summer counteroffensive and only entering combat in February this year. So far, Russian forces have reported destroying eight Abrams tanks.
“The armor on the tanks is not thick enough,” a soldier from Ukraine’s 47th Mechanized Brigade stationed in Donbas told CNN.
“The armor cannot protect the crew. In reality, this war is one of drones. So, whenever this tank appears, the enemy always tries to destroy it,” said a soldier known as “Joker.”
“Without proper defense, the crew cannot survive on the battlefield,” added “Dnipro,” a comrade of Joker.
The 47th Brigade is the only Ukrainian unit operating the US-made tanks. They are working on field adjustments for the M1A1, including fitting explosive reactive armor boxes and wire cages.
Images from the field show Ukraine adding cage armor and Soviet Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor (ERA) to the Abrams tanks. This is seen as a protective measure for the tanks on the front lines, where drones operate heavily and have destroyed several Abrams tanks recently.
CNN’s report appears to contradict the Pentagon’s statement last month that Abrams tanks were withdrawn from the battlefield due to the threat from Russian drones. The modern American tanks seem vulnerable to drone strikes targeting their weak top armor.
Ukrainian tank crews also complained that the electronics inside the tanks could short-circuit due to condensation from rain and fog. The engine of a tank recently transported from Poland failed. Additionally, the US supplied Ukraine with anti-tank ammunition that was unsuitable for its intended use.
The 47th Brigade soldiers also noted that Abrams tanks are designed to operate with artillery support and air superiority, which Ukraine lacks.
“We don’t have aircraft and artillery. We only have tanks. And that is the problem,” Joker said, adding that Western weapons arrived in Ukraine too slowly and in insufficient quantities.
“We are wasting time. That leads to our deaths,” a Ukrainian soldier shared.
Despite being considered one of the best-armored tanks in the world, Abrams tanks seem vulnerable to various Russian weapons. The version provided to Ukraine lacks the advanced armor of the US military version, making them more susceptible to damage.
Experts suggest that as drones become more advanced, the traditional armor protection of the Abrams may not be sufficient to withstand precise attacks, increasing the risk of these super tanks being destroyed.
The New York Times recently reported that $500 drones could easily destroy $10 million armored vehicles.
The US and its allies have supplied Ukraine with tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, drones, and other equipment worth over $200 billion in the past two years. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that any equipment sent to Ukraine will be destroyed and that supplying it to Kyiv only prolongs the conflict without changing its outcome.
