US plans to purchase new M1A2 Abrams tanks for Ukraine - Pentagon
US defense aid package for Ukraine, which includes 31 Abrams M1 tanks, provides for purchase of new combat vehicles for Ukrainian Armed Forces.
This was announced at a briefing in the Pentagon by Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of Defense Sabrina Singh, informs Censor.NЕТ referring to Ukrinform.
"Part of this package we have announced is to purchase new tanks for Ukraine," the US defense official said.
Singh noted that she could not give a timeframe for when the Abrams M1s would arrive in Ukraine, clarifying that it would be months rather than weeks.
At the same time, the Pentagon spokesperson responded to comments made in the media about the allegedly small number of American tanks for Ukraine.
"I do not believe that a battalion of Abrams tanks for Ukraine is symbolic. These are real capabilities that will certainly give Ukraine an advantage on the battlefield," Singh emphasized.
A Pentagon spokesperson said that the United States will provide Ukraine with an M1A2 Abrams tank, which has significantly more capabilities than the previous M1A1 model, informs Censor.NЕТ with a reference to Radio Svoboda.
Singh added that the United States does not have "these tanks in excess in American warehouses," and it will take "months to transfer" the tanks to Ukraine.
The M1A2 is a significant upgrade over the older M1A1, mainly because the A2 runs on a digital system, unlike the A1's analog system. This is "the difference between a corded phone and an iPhone," explained retired Army General Robert Abrams, former commander of the US forces in Korea.
The M1A2 version of the tank is "significantly" more lethal, in particular, it includes an independent thermal imager for the commander. While in the previous version only the gunner had a thermal imaging system, in the new version the tank commander also has one, which allows him to help in finding and identifying targets. The digital system also allows the tank crew to conduct their own onboard diagnostics, Abrams said, instead of waiting for mechanics to run tests to determine any problems.
As the American general emphasized, the M1A2 "far surpasses in lethality, survivability, and mobility" anything Russia has on the battlefield.
As a reminder, on January 25, US President Joe Biden announced supplies of 31 American-made M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine.
