The Abrams Tanks? Unsuitable for Ukraine. Word of Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor

The M1A1 Abrams tanks supplied by the United States to Ukraine have sparked considerable debate over their effectiveness in the ongoing conflict. Recent statements by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan have fueled the discussion.

Sullivan noted: “ These tanks are not actually used by units because they are not the most useful piece of equipment for them in this battle .” This admission comes despite previous Ukrainian insistence on purchasing these tanks and appears to be an admission of the inadequacy of the Stars and Stripes tank.

The words were spoken at a lecture at the Roland Raegan Library.

Field reports appear to confirm Sullivan's observations. Ukrainian forces continue to rely more heavily on Soviet-era T-72 tanks and German-supplied Leopard 2s, while Abrams tanks see limited use.

Observers and analysts note that this preference is not surprising, given the unique challenges posed by the Abrams in Ukraine's operational environment.

In the past, Ukrainian officers have criticized the Abrams for its lack of adequate armor protection and the limitations of its modern combat and communications systems. These shortcomings, combined with the logistical complexity of maintaining tanks, have raised questions about their practicality on the battlefield.

Additionally, some tanks were reported to have arrived inoperable and required repairs by Ukrainian mechanics before they could be put into service.

Analysts had predicted it

Concerns about the Abrams' suitability were raised even before their deployment. Several analysts predicted that the tanks, coming from "neutered" versions, especially in terms of armor configuration, would have major problems. These predictions appear to align with recent battlefield reports.

Of the 31 Abrams tanks initially delivered to Ukraine, more than 20 are believed to have been destroyed , deactivated, or captured. Many of these losses were attributed to guided artillery fire and kamikaze drones, while at least one tank was reportedly destroyed by a Russian T-72B3 in a direct engagement. The high-profile nature of these leaks has been widely documented, often with video evidence circulating online.

Ukrainian personnel expressed dissatisfaction with the Abrams tanks during interviews with Western media. They highlighted recurring technical problems, such as the sensitivity of electronic components to condensation and the vulnerability of tanks to Russian fire. In short, the tank is a waste on the Russian front.

The Abrams' large size also made them conspicuous targets compared to the smaller profiles of Soviet-designed tanks, such as the T-80 and T-64, which tend to attract less attention from enemy forces.

Despite these setbacks, Ukraine is ready to receive more tanks, although not directly from the United States. The next batch, comprising 49 M1A1SA Abrams tanks , will arrive from Australia with Washington's approval . It will be interesting to see these tanks, not the latest A3 series, optimized for use in the Australian desert, engaged in snow and mud in Ukraine.

This new shipment is part of Australia's $245 million military aid package and follows the previous delivery of 31 Abrams by the United States in late 2023.

The Australian Government's commitment was announced by Defense Minister Pat Conroy at a meeting of NATO Defense Ministers in Brussels. Because the United States retains intellectual property rights to the Abrams under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Canberra requested Washington's permission to transfer the tanks.

Was it true glory?

Western military analysts and defense experts have long debated the potential impact of deploying M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. As the conflict drags on, America's iconic main battle tank, famed for its advanced armor and powerful armament, has been the subject of both great expectations and cautious skepticism.

From the beginning, voices within the Western defense community expressed doubts that Abrams tanks would be a decisive factor on the battlefield in Ukraine. Retired U.S. Army Gen. Mark Hertling, former commander of U.S. Army Europe, noted that while the Abrams is a technological marvel, its logistical demands are immense.

“These tanks are incredible, but they require a sophisticated supply chain to keep them running. The fuel consumption is enormous and they require specialized maintenance that could put a strain on Ukraine's existing capabilities ,” Hertling said in an interview earlier this year.
Logistical challenges aren't the only concern.

The Abrams is equipped with a gas turbine engine that provides unmatched speed and maneuverability, but consumes much more fuel than the diesel engines used by many of the Soviet-era and Western Ukrainian tanks.

In the fast-moving, resource-constrained environment of the Ukrainian front, this can become a critical vulnerability. “ Fuel logistics alone make the Abrams less suited to the conditions that Ukrainian forces face on a daily basis,” said Ben Barry, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Additionally, the Abrams' reliance on advanced components and systems raises questions about combat sustainability.

Unsuitable for the Ukrainian modus operandi

Ukrainian forces, accustomed to maintaining older Soviet-style equipment, may face a steep learning curve to integrate American tanks into their operations.

This complexity may limit its immediate effectiveness. “ Training troops to operate and maintain Abrams tanks requires time, resources, and a level of technical proficiency that is difficult to develop in the midst of high-intensity conflict ,” Barry added.

In particular, Western defense experts have repeatedly emphasized that tanks alone are not a magic bullet in modern warfare. Michael Kofman, a leading military analyst covering Russian and Ukrainian military capabilities, pointed out that armored units are most effective when integrated into combined arms operations.

“Tanks are critical, but their success depends on infantry, artillery and airpower support. Without them, tanks are vulnerable to anti-armor systems, which have proliferated on both sides of the Ukrainian conflict ,” Kofman explained during a defense symposium.

These challenges do not reduce the symbolic and political significance of the supply of Abrams tanks to Ukraine. As a gesture of unwavering Western support, the tanks make a strong statement. However, their practical usefulness in the current phase of the conflict remains a matter of debate.

Some experts have argued that the focus should be on providing Ukraine with capabilities better suited to its operational reality, such as additional artillery systems, armored personnel carriers and drones. Abrams tanks are not the best means, it would have been better to provide a few hundred thousand more 155 mm shells.

As U.S. officials now acknowledge that Abrams tanks may not be the “most useful” piece of equipment for Ukraine in this battle, these earlier assessments take on new relevance. The arrival of the tanks, while celebrated in some quarters, highlights the broader challenges of tailoring military aid to the specific needs of the Ukrainian battlefield.

The extraordinary success of the Abrams in other conflicts was possible due to the evident overall superiority of the American armed forces in those conflicts: it was easy to overwhelm the Iraqi armed forces with tanks, when there was suffocating air cover and they operated accompanied by infantry on excellent M2 Bradleys, which also proved to be up to par in Russia. In a hostile environment, deprived of some technologically sophisticated elements, the Abrams proved to be unsuitable and not up to par with other competitors in the field.

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The article The Abrams Tanks? Unsuitable for Ukraine. Word of Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor comes from Economic Scenarios .

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This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/i-carri-abrams-inadatti-allucraina-parola-di-jake-sullivan-consigliere-per-la-sicurezza-nazionale/ on Wed, 11 Dec 2024 19:49:09 +0000.