A major issue they cited is that the turbine engine guzzles jet fuel rather than diesel like the German-made Leopard tank. “Time that we’ll use to make sure the Ukrainians are fully prepared.”Īs recently as last week, the Biden Administration had insisted the Abrams tank was too complicated, too expensive, and too difficult to train Ukrainian forces to use. “Delivering these tanks to the field is going to take time,” Biden said in his speech at the White House. Administration officials said the Ukrainian troops’ Abrams training will take place “outside” Ukraine, but wouldn’t say whether it will be held in United States, like the ongoing Patriot system training. At around 45 miles per hour, it’s faster than older tanks with specialized armor-plating designed to withstand direct hits with antitank weapons. The Abrams tank weighs more than 60 tons with a 120 millimeter cannon that can hit targets a mile away. The Ukrainian military currently operates a Soviet-era tank fleet, which is expected to be over-matched in the coming months when Russia’s mobilizes its offensive in the east. and Western partners for new armor since the early stages of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion last February. Under this longer timeline, the new Abrams tanks aren’t likely to arrive ahead of an expected spring offensive by Russian forces. Read More: Exclusive: AWOL Navy SEAL Killed Fighting In Ukraine

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