Author Topic: Despite concerns, US to send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine  (Read 285 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Right_in_Virginia

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 79,323
Despite concerns, US to send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine
« on: January 25, 2023, 10:23:56 pm »
Despite concerns, US to send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine
AOL, Jan 25, 2023,  Associated Press

Just last week, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl told reporters that the Abrams is a complicated, expensive, difficult to maintain and hard to train on piece of equipment. One thing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been very focused on, he said, “is that we should not be providing the Ukrainians systems they can’t repair, they can’t sustain, and that they, over the long term, can’t afford, because it’s not helpful.”

For the Abrams to be effective in Ukraine, its forces will require extensive training on combined arms manuevuer — how the tanks operate together on the battlefield, and on how to maintain and support the complex, 70-ton weapon. The Abrams tanks use a turbine jet engine to propel themselves that burns through at least two gallons a mile regardless of whether they are moving or idling, which means that a network of fuel trucks is needed to keep the line moving.

The $400 million package announced Wednesday also includes eight M88 recovery vehicles — tank-like tracked vehicles that can tow the Abrams if it gets stuck.

But there were few answers about what U.S. tanks would be sent — whether they would be pulled from the existing stockpile of more than 4,000 Abrams and retrofitted, or whether the U.S. would use the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to buy new systems to possibly backfill allies who send their own or buy new systems outright for Ukraine.

Either way, using the assistance initiative funding route means that while Abrams have now been promised to Ukraine, it will likely be many months before the tanks are actually on the battlefield, and not in time for Russia's anticipated Spring offensive.

Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergey Nechayev on Wednesday called Berlin’s decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine “extremely dangerous.”


https://www.aol.com/news/despite-concerns-us-to-send-31-abrams-tanks-to-ukraine-174708218.html

Offline Right_in_Virginia

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 79,323
Re: Despite concerns, US to send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2023, 10:29:02 pm »
Ukraine will now push for F-16 fighter jets, government adviser says
MSN, Jan 25, 2023, The Hill

Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraine’s defense secretary, told The Hill that he was optimistic about receiving western fighter jets such as the American F-16s, which Ukrainians have sought since early last year when Russia first invaded.

“Every type of weapon we request, we needed yesterday,” Sak said. “We will do everything possible to ensure Ukraine gets fourth-generation fighter jets as soon as possible.”

Reuters first reported the news that Ukraine was setting its sights on fighter jets.

Ukraine scored a major win on Wednesday with the announcement from President Biden that the U.S. will donate 31 American-made M1 Abrams main battle tanks to Kyiv.

Western fighter jets and longer-range artillery units, which would allow Ukraine to strike Russian forces deeper in occupied territory, will likely be the next debate for NATO.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/ukraine-will-now-push-for-f-16-fighter-jets-government-adviser-says/ar-AA16K9pT

Offline Right_in_Virginia

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 79,323
Re: Despite concerns, US to send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2023, 10:30:46 pm »
Biden: "I shipped air defense systems all to help counter Ukraine's brutal aggression that's happening because of Russia.". (Video)


https://mobile.twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1618296311480188928

Offline Maj. Bill Martin

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10,716
  • Gender: Male
  • I'll make Mincemeat out of 'em"
Re: Despite concerns, US to send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2023, 10:32:59 pm »
Biden: "I shipped air defense systems all to help counter Ukraine's brutal aggression that's happening because of Russia.". (Video)


https://mobile.twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1618296311480188928

He needs a pudding and a nap.