The US authorities decided to send Ukraine older models of American Abrams battle tanks so that the supply of this equipment would not be delayed. This was reported by the Associated Press, citing sources. According to them, the tanks will be delivered to Ukraine in 8-10 months.
The United States planned to provide Ukraine with 31 tanks of the latest M1A2 Abrams model. However, their production and delivery would take from one to two years. The older M1A1 model is already in service with the US military, so they can be transferred by the end of 2023.
According to the agency, the tanks of the old configuration will be easier for the Ukrainian military to use. As CNN noted, the M1A2 model has a digital guidance system – the military would have to train longer to work with it. Channel sources also reported that the United States could transfer older models of Abrams tanks to Ukraine.
According to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden initially did not want to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine, because, according to the military, they would be “useless in this battle.” However, the US President changed his mind under pressure from the German authorities.
