The Ukrainians urgently withdraw the surviving American Abrams M1A1 tanks from the front, because of their mass defeat by Russian drones
Ukraine withdraws American tanks Abrams M1A1 from the front line, one of the reasons being the active use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by the Russian troops. This is reported by the Associated Press, citing sources.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) received 31 M1 Abrams from the US in January 2023. The machines were to be used to break through the defenses of the Russians.
However, in the meantime, the situation on the battlefield has changed significantly – reconnaissance and attack drones have begun to be used literally everywhere. This, in turn, made it difficult to protect the tanks of the Armed Forces.
Combat vehicles cannot be used in open areas without fear of detection. According to the agency at least five of the 31 tanks have already been destroyed.
Now the Pentagon is developing a new tactic for using the Abrams.
And in the West, they already secretly call Ukraine “the graveyard of tanks” because of the large number of armored vehicles handed over to Kiev, destroyed in the conflict zone.
M1 Abrams tanks have been in mass production since 1980. Their price varies around 10 million dollars.
A senior US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stressed that the proliferation of drones on the battlefield means “there is no open space that you can just walk through without fear of being spotted”.
Therefore, this military equipment was moved from the front line.
“We will work with our Ukrainian partners and other partners on the ground to help them consider how the machines might be used in the future in this changed environment where everything is visible at a glance,” assured Admiral Christopher Grady, Vice President of the Joint Committee of the Chiefs of Staff, writes blitz.bg.
The information was confirmed by a third representative of the US Army, who wished to remain anonymous.
“If you think about how a battle unfolds, large armor in an environment with ubiquitous unmanned aerial systems can be at risk,” Grady explained, adding that tanks are still important to the flow of combat.
