Australia considers sending decommissioned Abrams tanks to Ukraine
Australian media report that the local government is increasingly in favour of transferring M1A1 Abrams tanks, which are being phased out of service, to Ukraine. Dozens of such machines are involved, and we remind you of their equipment and capabilities.
The Australian newspaper "The Sydney Morning Herald," citing its sources, reported that Defence Minister Richard Marles had changed his rhetoric on the issue of transferring Australian Abrams tanks to Ukraine. When initial speculations emerged, he claimed that "such moves are not on the agenda." However, considering U.S. arms export regulations, he is examining how tanks could be delivered to Ukraine.
Australia is phasing out 59 M1A1 Abrams tanks
This involves as many as 59 M1A1 Abrams tanks, which the Australian army is phasing out in favour of newer M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams. Interestingly, Ukraine has made official requests twice to acquire the decommissioned M1A1 Abrams, but the Australian government rejected them.
Washington must also approve a potential agreement to transfer this equipment to Ukraine since Abrams tanks are manufactured in the USA. One argument in favour of transferring Australian M1A1 Abrams tanks to the Ukrainian army could be that it is already familiar with this type of construction. In 2023, 31 M1A1 Abrams tanks were transferred from the U.S. to Ukraine. However, the Russians have already eliminated several of them.
Capabilities of the M1A1 Abrams tank
The Ukrainian portal Defence Express notes that many voices within Australia advocate for the transfer of the decommissioned Abrams tanks to Ukraine.
Among those in favour are Peter Leahy (a former Australian army officer) and Michael Shoebridge (a former official of the Australian Defence Ministry and current security expert), who believes that these are tanks "still in good condition." However, it cannot be ruled out that the Australian M1A1 Abrams would require some modernization despite this.
Although it is not the latest variant of this American tank, it still provides substantial battlefield capabilities. The M1A1 Abrams is equipped with a 120 mm gun and machine guns of 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm. The machine weighs about 57,000 kg, measures nearly 10 metres in length, and can accelerate to even 68 km/h. Despite its large mass, Ukrainian soldiers appreciate the Abrams' accuracy, excellent stabilization, and manoeuvrability.
