The arrival of US M1A1 Abrams tanks in Ukraine was seen as a turning point on the front. The American tank, with a unit cost of nearly $10 million, was supposed to provide the armored fist that would break through the Russian lines. However, this did not happen, and Ukraine is currently withdrawing these tanks from the front. Why?
Battlefield tactics are developing rapidly, and Russia is already skillfully using military drones for attacks on enemy targets, and in addition, the Ukrainians cannot fully develop the potential of the tank in question, writes The Telegraph.
This news is worrying for NATO because Russia has discovered the critical vulnerability of American tanks, but the situation is not yet irreversible and measures can be taken. A tank is very vulnerable if it is static and only its gun is used, but not its speed.
Five of the 31 tanks delivered to Kiev last year have already been destroyed. To begin with, it's worth noting that the Ukrainians are not using the latest and greatest model of the American dreadnought Abrams machine. Some of the features that make the tank more durable and stronger have been removed to keep it out of Russian hands. The export version differs from that used by the US military.
But we also have to think about what the tank was intended for, which even a century ago became the main weapon on the front. Guderian understood that the tank (although the German tanks of the time differed from the American Abrams, the strategy for using this weapon was identical) was most useful when used for high-speed maneuvers and striking power. Maneuverability is an essential component that should not be overlooked. And it seems the Ukrainians do that.
They use the tank's firepower at the expense of its maneuverability, making it vulnerable to air attacks. It turns out that a drone costing you a few thousand dollars can knock out a $10 million tank.
There are simple workarounds for this vulnerability. Metal cages and explosive armor can be fitted to the tank to reduce this threat. In addition, the British DragonFire laser system gives very good results.
More recently, Ukraine needs to adopt a different mindset, one based much more on maneuver warfare, where rapid combined action strikes against static Russian forces. This will require air power, artillery and infantry all working together with tanks to break through the Russian defenses.
There are reasons for optimism for Kyiv. The US has announced that it will supply ATACMS missiles, with which the Ukrainians will hit long-range targets, and in addition, Ukraine is expected to receive Western F-16 fighter jets by the end of the year. And perhaps most important of all, the Ukrainians are getting used to working with modern Western tanks. Although many things have changed, armored warfare is still important and tanks are still not out of fashion on the front. As long as they are used correctly.