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.
Not if you plan to have children. More income for lawyers in the future.
The U.S. government will acquire the Abrams through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).
Huh? What? We are buying our own tanks from the Ukrainians?
The US Army has 20 divisions in its regular establishment, half of which is National Guard. These days nearly all of this force is at home.
I am speaking here of combat maneuver units, not including supporting arms, which are usually assigned proportionally.
There is about one division-equivalent in Europe right now, and a brigade (1/3 of a division) in South Korea.
There are a disproportionate number of supporting arms (artillery, helicopters, etc.) and service personnel in South Korea however. There are also support and logistics units in other countries, like Japan.
So, out of the whole establishment of the combat units of the US Army, @ 92% are in the US.
As for equipment, there is a considerable amount prepositioned in various places abroad. What and where is not disclosed AFAIK. Much of it is in Europe (Germany, and Poland, probably) South Korea, and the Middle East or Diego Garcia, probably.
Whats been sent to Ukraine or is likely to be is a tiny proportion of US equipment holdings. Much more is on its way to Poland, proportionately - as a proxy for total arms transfers, 350 out of the 6000+ M1 Abrams tanks as of 2022 are in or on their way to Polish service.
Compare to the Cold War days.
Advice - do not be fooled by the buzz. Look for the details on your own.
That’s why Biden is sending them ...
The internal budget transfer to cover reduction in the inventory value of reserve equipment stocks. That is, the US Government is “buying” (actually costing out) its own inventory in a paper transaction.
One day I may try to explain cost accounting.
IIRC the DU panels are in the “cheeks” of the turret.
>>If we have no military and hardware in USA what do we defend US soil with?
The US military has no role in defending US soil. The US military’s role is solely to engage in foreign adventure on foreign soil.
Defending the US soil is the role of the Department of Homeland Security.
AFAIK Chinese atgms have not been observed in Ukraine.
And the only Chinese drones are commercial ones, which have also been acquired by Ukraine in large numbers.
Probably all from Alibaba.
They would be much better protected than Russian armor, or the available Ukrainian armor in any case. Vulnerability is relative.
All Biden has to do is order the Border patrol to do their jobs again (insert laugh track here). They served perfectly well in 2020. You do not need to send the Army to the border.
This is a US government policy problem, not a resource problem.
Secret armor you say? Just dial 1-800-HUNTERB
A comical post. Means one of three things. One, the person laughably must believe that the Russians do not already possess all the secrets from the highly classified process of building a tank. Face it, tank builders don’t guard the secrets of armor like the nsa is with a satellite.
Two, they must believe that the Ukrainians are so skilled that their tanks will be captured.
Three, they may have an expectation that normally Ukrainians will just sell that to the highest bidder.
At least two of these tacit admissions have to be true for this article to make any sense. Lol
They get a lot more than an airframe and an engine.
The Dutch and Norwegian F-16’s for instance are Block 15, with radar and AMRAAM (radar homing missiles) capability.
Dirty Little secret about so-called Defense? Nobody is coming to America to invade us militarily. The invasion we get is across the open border, in Chinese and Saudi‘s and Europeans practicing elite capture in DC with bribery of one kind or another. No military force is on its way to invade us.
if you have twitter, for your viewing pleasure... hilarious
this guy will NOT like the reception he gets next time/if ever, they get together
https://twitter.com/i/status/1618609882504257537
You are right, under current circumstances. There is no military threat of a land invasion. Neither Canada not Mexico are likely to invade the US anytime soon. Nobody is in a position to invade US territory by sea.
Any conventional, international threat to the US is so marginal as to be a police matter.
You misread - there is no exportable M1A1 tanks in US inventory. To go to another country they have to either be made new or come from some other partner country using them. For instance, Poland could donate some of its M1A2Ms as the first ones are set to arrive by the end of the year.
US M1s have classified armor since the mid 80s. They cannot be exported, but they all could be used to defend the country (or take out the Mexican Cartels).
‘who cares if it worked or not.’ Verhoven got it right way, way back. No wonder he doesn’t work in Hellyworld anymore.
If there were, they were all export models and do not have classified armor.
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