Summary and 5 M1 Abrams Tanks Facts You Need to Know on Ukraine: The deployment of older M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine has proven ineffective in changing the course of the war.

-While celebrated as a symbol of Western support, the tanks have been vulnerable to Russian drones and anti-tank systems like the Kornet missile.

-Ukraine’s lack of experience with such advanced tanks, combined with evolving Russian tactics, has diminished the tanks' impact.

-The Abrams' arrival did not deliver the strategic breakthrough many hoped for, instead highlighting the need to reconsider modern tank warfare tactics, especially against drone and missile threats in a conflict like this.

The Waste of the M1 Abrams Tanks on Ukraine

With the Ukraine War about to enter its third year, NATO continues sending weapons systems and false hope to Kyiv. These systems included antiquated variants of the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank. 

Sure, it provided a great moral and psychological victory when the Americans consented to hand these systems over to the plucky Ukrainians. But, as I predicted years ago, the Ukrainians have done little with these systems. 

The deployment of the old M1 Abrams variants reflected the evolving dynamics of the conflict with Russia and represented a serious policy shift on the part of the Americans. It marked an escalation reflecting Western leaders’ mistaken assumption of a failing Russian front.

Understanding the M1 Abrams Tank

In general, the M1 Abrams is an outstanding system. But it must be used by skilled hands. The Ukrainians, despite their plucky attitudes, lack proper training and understanding of how to deploy armor in combat.

The first Abrams were delivered in late 2023. The media celebrated their arrival in Ukraine, as they were supposedly arriving earlier than expected. The hope was that the Abrams would be able to break through Russian defensive lines in the front, notably in places like Avdiivka, where the fighting between Ukraine and Russian forces was most intense. 

Ukraine could not convert the systems into anything resembling victory. That’s partly because of the aforementioned training problems. More important, though, the drones and anti-tank systems deployed by the Russians are more effective than the Ukrainians want to acknowledge.

For example, First-Person View drones used by the Russians have created an entirely new dimension in the fighting. These drones, often equipped with high explosives, have eviscerated the few M1 Abrams Ukraine has deployed. These drone strikes have highlighted how vulnerable the Abrams are.

Elsewhere in the war, the Russians have wantonly deployed the Kornet anti-tank missile. The Kornets’ warheads penetrate even the armor of the Abrams, doing significant damage. 

Because of these threats, Ukraine initially pulled its Abrams back from the frontlines. Over time the strategy evolved toward more cautious deployment. These tanks operated under the cover of foliage or at night as a way of reducing their exposure to Russian drones.

Wasted Tanks, Wasted Time Bigly

Given the way that the Ukraine War has played out, with the injudicious use of anti-tank weapons and the innovative deployment of drones against even armored vehicles, a re-evaluation of modern tank warfare tactics is necessary. 

In fact, most U.S. Army MBT training now focuses on enhancing protection against drones, improving mobility to evade rather than withstand hits. It is possibly integrating more advanced electronic warfare capabilities. 

The deployment of the M1 Abrams was supposed to be a great game-changing event of the war. It was not. All it has done has been to prolong the war and give the Russians more wind in their proverbial sails. For all the talk about how important the Abrams were for Ukraine, the reality is that they were not worth the time it took to train crews on how to operate these platforms. 

Author Experience and Expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock.

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