US Abrams Tanks Heading Towards the Red Square

US Abrams tanks heading towards the Red Field

According to Iran Gate, after hours of waiting, the official announcement for the immediate dispatch of armored vehicles, including M1 Abrams tanks and German Leopard 2 tanks, to Kiev was released by the US government.

Thirty-one M1 Abrams tanks, which are among the most advanced tanks in the US arsenal, will be sent to Kiev. US President Joe Biden officially announced his decision to send these advanced armored vehicles on Wednesday evening at 18:00 European time. This decision was accompanied by doubt and uncertainty until January 25, 2023.

During a press conference on January 25, Biden emphasized that the supply of Abrams tanks to Ukraine strengthens its ability to defend its territory and allows the country to achieve its strategic goals. Biden added that this action will not pose any threat to Russia and there will be no aggression against Russia. We will only assist Ukraine in defending itself.

The promise of sending Abrams to Ukraine was actually a commitment for Germany to also send their Leopard 2 tanks along with the American Abrams to Kyiv, as part of the agreement between Washington and Berlin to provide Ukraine with the most powerful Western armored vehicles for its defense against Russian aggression. In line with this Berlin agreement, Germany also announced its decision to send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine simultaneously with the United States.

Germany will also promptly grant licenses for a total of 80 tanks to partners who want to deliver their tanks to Kyiv, and it emphasized that it will start training Ukrainian forces quickly and in a short period of time.

Military coverage for Germany

In fact, this action by the United States is seen as military-political coverage for Germany and its allied countries. The exact date of the delivery of the Abrams has not yet been disclosed, and according to analysts, this process requires time and may take several months for the tanks to reach Ukrainian forces, as the Ukrainian forces need to undergo training on the usage and maintenance of these advanced tanks.

The United States’ hesitation in sending Abrams tanks was actually due to the difficulty and complexity of working with this model of tanks. However, ultimately, with unofficial requests from the Berlin government, the Biden administration was convinced to reconsider its position and set aside its doubts.

Senior American officials reported in a meeting attended by a few journalists that the 31 tanks that the United States plans to send to Ukraine will be produced by General Dynamics Land Systems, the manufacturer of very powerful tanks. This means that the tanks of the Kyiv forces will not be leaving the American warehouses, and therefore, it will take months for them to reach their destination.

German Defense Minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, announced that Leopard 2 tanks can be delivered to Ukraine within the next three months. However, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the number and timing of tank deliveries are very important. Zelensky expressed gratitude to Germany, Britain, and the United States for their decision to send tanks to Ukraine, but he honestly stated that the number and timing of tank deliveries to Ukraine are crucial.

Third-generation tanks

Experts consider the new Western armored vehicles to be potentially vital for Ukrainian military attacks against Russian forces. Washington’s message is clear: these armored vehicles are undoubtedly exceptional and have a prominent role. They are hidden in the arsenals of the United States.

M1 Abrams tanks are the third generation of main battle tanks used by the US Army. They have been utilized in all conflicts from the Gulf War to Afghanistan. They have been in service since 1980 and were designed by General Dynamics Land Systems in the previous decade 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 as the best American commander of mechanized units during World War II.

Currently, this is one of the heaviest armored vehicles. The Abrams tank costs nearly $9 million and over ten thousand units have been produced in three versions to date.