Russian analysis of captured M1A1 Abrams tank intensifies
The American-made M1A1 Abrams tank, captured by the Russians in Ukraine, was seen being transported to Russia. According to the Bulgarian Military service, the tank was delivered to the Uralvagonzavod company, which is involved in tank manufacturing, where the Russians will examine its construction.
The Bulgarian Military service, citing reports from the Russian military-themed Telegram channel "Military Observer," notes the appearance of the M1A1 Abrams tank in the city of Nizhny Tagil, commonly known as "Tank City." This is where the headquarters of the Russian company Uralvagonzavod is located, primarily engaged in tank production.
Abrams in Russia
New reports indicate that the Abrams tank captured by the Russians in Ukraine was transported to Uralvagonzavod, where Russian engineers will examine it. Through reverse engineering, they will dismantle its components to extract design information. It is worth noting that not long ago, another Western tank was brought to Uralvagonzavod, and a similar procedure was performed. This was the German tank Leopard 2A6, which the Ukrainians also used.
The exact condition of the American-made tank is unknown, but experts speculate that it may be one of the best-preserved or least damaged Abrams tanks captured by the Russians during the war in Ukraine. Kyiv received 31 such machines, and more than half of them (about 20 units) have already been destroyed in combat.
The M1A1 Abrams is one of the most recognizable and advanced main battle tanks in the world. It was developed in the United States to meet the growing need to modernize armoured forces during the Cold War period. Its production began in the 1980s, with the M1A1 model debuting in 1985, introducing numerous improvements over its predecessor, the M1 Abrams.
The M1A1 Abrams tanks delivered to Ukraine have a 120 mm gun and 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm calibre machine guns. They are typically armoured with depleted uranium inserts, but for Ukraine, they were modified to a variant with tungsten inserts. This modification aimed to reduce the risk of advanced technology being captured by the Russians. The M1A1 Abrams, considered a powerful machine, can reach high speeds thanks to the Honeywell AGT-1500 gas turbine engine with 1500 horsepower, and they also stand out for their superb stabilization and maneuverability.
