Posted on 01/26/2023 11:36:45 AM PST by Red Badger
A group of M1 Abrams tanks sit in a holding area after being offloaded from the freighter ship “Resolve” at the port of Antwerp April 24. Photo by Staff Sgt. Warren W. Wright Jr., 21st TSC Public Affairs
As the U.S. government is now preparing to send dozens of M1 Abrams tanks to the Ukrainian military, much attention has been given to concerns about how their complex electronic components and especially their gas turbine propulsion systems could make them particularly difficult to operate and maintain. Though it’s not yet clear what specific variant of the Abrams Ukraine’s military is set to receive, the tanks will have to be in a unique export configuration. This is largely due to the highly classified armor packages found specifically on U.S. military versions, which contain depleted uranium, and that are not readily exportable even to major allies. In other words, the U.S. can’t just send its M1s to Ukraine.
President Joe Biden formally announced plans to send 31 M1 tanks to the Ukrainian armed forces today. The U.S. government will acquire the Abrams through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). USAI provides funds to purchase weapon systems and other equipment, as well as training and other support services, on behalf of the Ukrainian military to support its longer-term needs. While the exact delivery schedule is not yet known, American officials have made clear the process will take months, not weeks. The first tanks may not arrive until late this year or even early next year.
In addition, it’s not immediately clear whether the M1s for Ukraine will be entirely new production tanks or if they will come through some other source. The U.S. Army has thousands of older Abrams in storage that a contractor could be hired to refurbish to a like-new condition or that could be used as donors to help with the construction of tanks that use a mixture of new and remanufactured components.
No matter what, they will need to be an exportable configuration before heading to Ukraine. So a big part of whatever that process ultimately entails will center on their armor package.
Starting in the late 1980s, many new-production M1A1s for the U.S. military began to feature composite armor packages that include depleted uranium (DU), a metal known for its high density, and other materials. Armor packages that incorporated DU were included on subsequent A2-series variants, as well. Many older American M1A1s were later upgraded with the newer armor and other improvements, including hundreds that were eventually brought up to the A2 standard.
Search works.
I’ve heard that.............
If I’m not mistaken, certain countries, depending on their relationships with the US can get options. But very, very few get what USAF fly with.
T-70-90 models all store ammo under the crew and turret. M1s store ammo in the turret bustle (the turret’s squarish thingy opposite the gun barrel) which has blow out panels.
We are buying our own tanks from the Ukrainians?
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The USAI is a US Program like Lend Lease. We use money in that fund to buy stuff.
We are not transferring US tanks to Poland - they are getting them new - an export version, M1A2M, which has no classified anything on it - they can stick their own stuff on it. They are currently in production and the first deliveries will be by the end of the year.
There is no military threat of a land invasion. Neither Canada not Mexico are likely to invade the US anytime soon
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Talk to the Mexican cartels which control the US southern border and are moving into the US directly, heavy weapons and all. They already have a sprawling marijuana growing facility in Shasta County staffed by 10,000 heavily armed troops.
There is no military invasion because no one wants to see it.
IIRC they were supposed to be getting 250 M1A2 Sep3
And 100+ M1A1 that they would upgrade themselves.
10,000 armed troops in Shasta county?
That sounds like a tall tale.
The border problem is a police matter, and the only issue here is that the politicians won’t let them do their jobs.
“We use money in that fund to buy stuff.”
Including buying stuff from the US military.
Hence the paper transactions. US 155mm ammo in Army reserve inventory is “bought” by the US government to give to Ukraine.
Possibly, but with the F35 program for instance I don’t think they are letting on as to what the Euros, the Japanese, etc. are NOT getting.
I know the Iraqis got an airframe, engine and basic targeting stuff for dropping bombs. That’s about it.
No kidding.
Specially when they’re in the garage and who knows where else!
And what happens if foreign forces launch an amphibious attack on U.S. soil? Do we repel a foreign navy with FBI jackboots and CIA spooks? Asking for a friend. /sarc
I think the point is that we be conquered.
Lesko Brandon is not working for us.
He is working for Deep State/China/the devil.
In Paul Verhoeven’s first Hollywood movie (RoboCop), Dick Jones’ Robotic-Cop-Creation -ED 209 -has just run amuck at a board meeting of parent company OCP (’we more or less are the military’ - not a quote but a paraphrase) and fatally perforated a junior exec. When he’s called out on his malfunctioning monstrosity his reply is ‘who cares if it worked or not’ (again followed by not a quote but a paraphrase -we’ve got repair and replacement parts orders for millions and billions).
Might be (ha! IS) said today by any member of the MIC. Make it fancy, make it complicated, make it prone to constant breakdowns...we got the contracts for parts, etc., who cares if it works. Cheers.
We welcome them with open arms.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariel_boatlift
At least that much.
All that data will be in Russian, Iranian and Chinese hands soon. We will see Putin riding around in one captured by Wagnar group in The Victory Parade. Heck, he just may buy it on the Ukraine black market.
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