U.S. Abrams Tanks Headed Towards Red Square
U.S. Abrams Tanks Headed Towards Red Square: According to Iran Gate, after hours of anticipation, an official announcement was made for the immediate dispatch of M1 Abrams armored vehicles and German Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv.
Thirty-one M1 Abrams tanks, which are among the most sophisticated tanks in the U.S. arsenal, will be sent to Kyiv. The Biden administration officially announced on Tuesday night at 1800 European time that it has made a definitive decision to send advanced armored vehicles. This decision, which was met with uncertainty until January 25, 2023, was finalized.
During a press conference on January 25, Biden emphasized that supplying Abrams tanks to Ukraine will enhance Ukraine’s ability to defend its territory and allow the country to achieve its strategic goals. Biden further added that this action poses no threat to Russia, and no aggression against Russia will occur. We are only helping Ukraine to defend itself.
The promise to send Abrams to Ukraine was actually contingent upon Germany also sending its Leopard 2 tanks alongside the American Abrams to Kyiv. This was part of an agreement between Washington and Berlin to provide Ukraine with the most powerful Western armored vehicles for fighting and defending its land against Russian aggression. In line with this agreement, Berlin simultaneously announced its decision with the United States to send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
Germany will also promptly grant permission to partners who wish to deliver their tanks to Kyiv, totaling eighty tanks, and emphasized that it will begin training Ukrainian forces quickly and in a short period.
Military Cover for Germany
In fact, this U.S. action is perceived as a political-military cover for Germany and allied countries. The exact delivery date of the Abrams has not been disclosed, and according to analysts, this requires time and may take several months for the U.S. armed forces’ tanks to reach Ukrainian forces, due to the complexity and advanced nature of these tanks, which necessitates training for Ukrainian forces on their use and maintenance.
The U.S. hesitation in sending Abrams was due to the difficulty and complexity of operating this model of tanks, but ultimately, with unofficial requests from Berlin, the Biden administration was persuaded to reconsider its stance and set aside its doubts.
Senior U.S. officials reported in a meeting attended by a few journalists that the 31 tanks the U.S. plans to send to Ukraine will be newly produced by General Dynamics Land Systems, the manufacturer of very powerful tanks, meaning that Kyiv’s forces’ tanks will not be drawn from U.S. stockpiles, and therefore, their arrival will take months.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that Leopard 2 tanks from Germany could be delivered to Ukraine within the next three months. However, according to Ukrainian President Zelensky, the number and timing of tank deliveries are crucial. Zelensky said, ‘I thank Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States for their decision to send tanks to Ukraine, but to be honest, the number of tanks and the timing of their delivery to Ukraine is very critical.’
Third-Generation Tanks
Experts consider the new Western armored vehicles potentially crucial for Ukraine’s military offensives against Russian forces. Washington’s message in sending these armored vehicles undoubtedly lies in their unique character and the prominent and distinguished role of these tank models in the U.S. arsenals.
The M1 Abrams tanks are the third-generation main battle tanks of the U.S. Army and have been used in all conflicts from the Gulf War to Afghanistan. They have been in service with the U.S. Army since 1980 and were designed in the previous decade by General Dynamics Land Systems, when it was still called Chrysler Defense.
They were supposed to be replaced by new generation armored systems, but instead, they were approved and updated with more advanced weaponry. Their name is derived from General Creighton Abrams, who is remembered in history as the best American mechanized unit commander during World War II.
This is one of the heaviest armored vehicles currently available. The Abrams costs nearly $9 million, and over ten thousand units have been produced in three versions to date.