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Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, U.S-supplied Abrams tanks' armor is failing as a series of weaknesses were found, according to Ukrainian crews working on the tanks who spoke to CNN.
The U.S. has supplied Ukraine with Abrams tanks, specifically the M1A1 models, as part of its military aid to support Kyiv's efforts against Russian forces. The delivery of the tanks was initially announced in January 2023, with each tank costing about $10 million.
According to President Joe Biden's announcement about the armored vehicles, the tanks are known for their advanced capabilities that require significant logistical support and maintenance, which the U.S. has committed to providing.
However, the tanks have faced significant challenges on the battlefield, primarily due to Russian drone warfare tactics. The drones have made it increasingly difficult for the tanks to operate without being detected and targeted, leading to the withdrawal of the hardware from the front lines to prevent further losses.
According to The Associated Press, five of the 31 American Abrams sent to Ukraine since January 2023 have already been lost to Russian action.
On Wednesday, according to CNN, Ukrainian crews who trained in Germany reiterated the difficulties and said the vehicles lacked armor that could stop modern weapons.
"Its armor is not sufficient for this moment," said one crew member with the call sign Joker. "It doesn't protect the crew. For real, today this is the war of drones. So now, when the tank rolls out, they always try to hit them."
Newsweek has reached out to the Pentagon and the Ukrainian Defense Ministry via email for comment.
"Without defense, the crew doesn't survive at the battlefield," another crew member, Dnipro, told CNN, adding they are the "number one target."
According to officials in the 47th Mechanized Brigade, all 31 Abrams deployed to Ukraine are engaged near the front line in the east.
This comes after U.S. officials said in April that the Abrams were being withdrawn from the front line due to the threat of Russian attack drones. However, according to the 47th some were still in action.
Moscow has repeatedly vowed to destroy advanced Western weapons systems sent to Ukraine, claiming that aid from the U.S. and its allies will only prolong—not help win—Kyiv's war against Russia.
Last September, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a press briefing, "There is no panacea, no single weapon that can change the balance of power on the battlefield."
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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