Ukraine enhances Abrams tanks with advanced defenses
"Like a sniper rifle with armor." This is how the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense described the American Abrams tank on its profile on the X platform, highlighting its greatest advantages. At the same time, they emphasized the modifications made to enhance its durability.
As part of support from the United States, Ukraine received 31 Abrams tanks, all of which are M1A1 variants. Initially, the transfer of newer M1A2 tanks was considered, but the Ukrainians themselves advocated for a change of plans. They were focused on timing, as the older M1A1 could be delivered much faster.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense on Abrams tanks
The M1A1 from the 1990s is, in practice, a machine that significantly surpasses the tanks the Ukrainian army had before the war. Among the greatest advantages of the American "armored beasts," Ukrainians include laser rangefinders and aiming devices, as well as a range of up to 2.5 miles while maintaining high accuracy.
Ukrainians modify the Abrams tanks
The durability of the M1A1 also exceeds what post-Soviet tanks have to offer. It still stands out as above average today, but it does not fully protect against new types of threats that have developed in the war in Ukraine. This primarily concerns the mass use of drones.
To better protect the Abrams crews, Ukrainians decided to introduce additional structural elements. These include reactive armor blocks (Kontakt-1, containing 9.2 ounces of powerful explosives, designed to prematurely detonate the cumulative warhead of an enemy missile) and meshes. Photos of such modified Abrams tanks were attached to the post by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. It was revealed that this equipment is used by the 47th Mechanized Brigade.
The M1A1 Abrams is equipped with a 120 mm caliber cannon and machine guns of 0.5 inch and 0.3 inch calibers. In the near future, tanks of the same type, which Australia is beginning to send to the front, will join those delivered by the USA.
