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Ukraine withdrew US Abrams tanks from the front line after they became easy targets for cheap Russian drones. Photo/Bulgarian Military
KYIV – Ukraine is currently no longer using Abrams M1A1 battle tanks supplied by the United States (US) in its war against Russia.
According to two US military officials to APin large part because Russian drone warfare has made it difficult for America’s expensive tanks to operate without being detected or attacked.
The US agreed to send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in January 2023 after an aggressive, months-long campaign by Kyiv arguing that the tanks – which cost about $10 million each (more than IDR 162 billion) – were critical to its ability to penetrate Russian defense line.
But the battlefield has changed substantially since then, especially with the widespread use of Russian surveillance drones and hunter-killer drones.
Russian weapons make it difficult for Ukraine to protect US-supplied tanks when they are quickly detected and hunted by Russian drones or shells.
New York Times recently reported that at least five of the 31 Abrams tanks the US sent to Ukraine had been destroyed by Russian drones that cost only USD 500 (Rp. 8 million) per unit.
“The increasing use of drones in the Ukrainian battlefield means there is no open ground that you can just walk over without fear of detection,” a senior US defense official told reporters on Thursday.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to provide an update on US arms support for Ukraine before the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on Friday (26/4/2024).
