Ukraine boosts Abrams tanks with new armour upgrades
A video has surfaced on social media showing an M1A1 Abrams tank included in the equipment of a Ukrainian brigade. Notable are the additional elements installed on the tank while in Ukraine. Thanks to these, the American machine is better equipped to endure tough encounters with the Russians.
So far, Ukraine has received 31 Abrams tanks. All were shipped to the front lines from the United States. Initially, M1A2 variants were considered, but ultimately, older M1A1 variants were handed over to Ukrainian soldiers. Although these tanks far surpass the Soviet-era machines on which Ukraine relied before the war broke out, they have not proved invincible. The Russians have already managed to destroy, damage, or capture several Abrams tanks. Therefore, the modifications made by Ukrainians to the remaining tanks in service are unsurprising.
M1A1 Abrams in Ukraine
In the latest video from the front, the Ukrainian M1A1 Abrams is shown equipped with two elements: Kontakt-1 armor blocks and ARAT-1 dynamic protection from the TUSK package.
The first solution is quite common in the war in Ukraine, with both sides of the conflict using it on various armoured vehicles. In this way, they attempt to increase the level of protection, for example, against drones. ARAT-1 (Abrams Reactive Armor Tile-1) is a much less common modification. ARAT-1 is a single-layer reactive armour (with explosive material placed between two steel plates) designed to mitigate the effects of attacks carried out using, among other things, anti-tank grenades or armour-piercing ammunition.
Offensively, Abrams tanks in Ukraine can be managed without additional modifications. These tanks are armed with a 120 mm calibre gun and 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns. An M1A1 Abrams weighs about 57,000 kilograms (additional elements can noticeably increase the tank's weight) and measures about 10 metres in length. Despite this, an engine with 1,500 horsepower can reach speeds of up to 68 km/h.
More Abrams tanks for Ukraine?
There are no reports from the United States suggesting that the authorities want to send additional tanks of this type to Ukraine. However, a possibility for a transfer has emerged from the other end of the world. Australia, which is significantly modernizing its armed forces, has sent decommissioned Abrams M1A1SA tanks to Ukraine. There will be up to 59 units.
