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World News / Re: Ukraine 4
« Last post by Kamaji on Today at 03:49:07 pm »Our Tanks Aren't Doing Much for Ukraine
Jazz Shaw
Last year, the United States sent 31 of our nearly top-of-the-line Abrams M1A1 tanks to Ukraine. (I say "nearly" because we are already producing the upgraded M1A2 model.) Zelensky had been begging for them, insisting that they were the key to breaking through the Russian lines when Ukraine launched its summer counteroffensive. Well, we all saw how that worked out. The counteroffensive stalled and now the Russians are advancing and driving back Ukraine's forces on the eastern front. But what of our tanks? This week, Ukraine pulled the remaining tanks from the front lines. The tanks had reportedly become sitting ducks for Russian drone and missile strikes. More than a quarter billion dollars worth of military hardware has now apparently been sidelined or destroyed. (NPR)
Ukraine has sidelined U.S.-provided Abrams M1A1 battle tanks for now in its fight against Russia, in part because Russian drone warfare has made it too difficult for them to operate without detection or coming under attack, two U.S. military officials told The Associated Press.
The U.S. agreed to send 31 Abrams to Ukraine in January 2023 after an aggressive monthslong campaign by Kyiv arguing that the tanks, which cost about $10 million apiece, were vital to its ability to breach Russian lines.
But the battlefield has changed substantially since then, notably by the ubiquitous use of Russian surveillance drones and hunter-killer drones. Those weapons have made it more difficult for Ukraine to protect the tanks when they are quickly detected and hunted by Russian drones or rounds.
Five of the thirty-one tanks have been destroyed by missiles or "killer drones." The Ukrainian forces also reportedly lack the necessary parts and experience to perform the required maintenance on them. Obviously, the Russians have no fear of destroying our hardware. Why would they? We sent the tanks over to be used against them, so the tanks are obvious targets. An Abrams is pretty difficult to hide out in the open, also. This isn't a coyote and roadrunner cartoon.
more
https://hotair.com/jazz-shaw/2024/04/27/our-tanks-arent-doing-much-for-ukraine-n3787346
Interesting. This implies that drones are essentially making tanks obsolete.