In order to accelerate the supply of tanks to Ukraine, the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced that instead of new Abrams M1-A2 tanks, it will modernize the hulls of old tanks and provide them to the Ukrainian army by autumn.
Speaking at the daily press conference, Pentagon Spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said, “As announced in January, the US was going to supply 31 M1 Abram tanks to the Ukrainian army as part of the Ukraine Security Initiative. The intention there was to supply the M1-A2 variant. However, since we made that announcement, to give the tank as quickly as possible. We were looking for options on how to do this better. After research and study on how we can do this better, the Pentagon, in coordination with Ukraine, decided to deliver the M1-A1 variant of the Abram tanks. This will significantly shorten the delivery time.” said.
Ryder noted that the hulls of the M1-A1 tanks will be renewed and informed that these tanks will be supplied to the Ukrainian army until autumn.
Stating that the replacement of the tanks’ hulls will be funded under the Ukraine Security Initiative, within the scope of the US defense budget, Ryder emphasized that the procurement of the first announced tanks may take more than a year.
The United States had long resisted not giving tanks to Ukraine.
President Joe Biden’s administration was put in a difficult situation when Germany stipulated that the US should supply tanks first in the debate on the supply of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
The administration changed its rhetoric in a short time and announced that 31 M1A Abrams tanks would be purchased on January 24 to be given to the Ukrainian army.
Thereupon, Germany announced that it would give the Leopard 2 tank to Ukraine and allowed the countries with these tanks to take a step in this direction. (AA)