Australia completes transfer of 49 Abrams tanks to Ukraine
Australia has completed a classified operation to deliver M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine.
Source: ABC News
Details: ABC News secured exclusive access to the mission of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in Poland.
The handover covers 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks that previously served with the Australian Army. The first 37 arrived in Poland in July and a further 12 came over the past two weeks. The tanks were transferred to Ukraine after final technical checks.
ADF personnel set up a temporary maintenance hub in Poland to inspect and prepare the vehicles, including checks on turrets, weapons systems, optics systems and the tracks. Preparing each batch took about seven days.
The final shipment left the Australian city of Geelong in October 2024 on a specialised cargo vessel. The sea journey took 55 days before the vehicles were delivered to Europe.
Transferring the M1A1 Abrams required separate US approval under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the American export control rules, because the tanks are a US platform.
ABC News reported earlier on concerns raised by US officials about the logistics and maintenance of the tanks in Ukraine.
"The M1A1 is a highly capable platform but it, like everything, takes some maintenance," said Colonel James Smith, charged with overseeing Operation Kudu, which is the ADF's commitment to training for Ukraine.
Smith added that Australia ensured the vehicles were fully technically ready before the transfer.
Quote from Simon Anglim from the Department of War Studies at King's College London: "The M1A1 Abram is still one of the best tanks in the world, and it's still better than anything that the Russians have got."
More details: Anglim said that the main weak point is the top armour on the turret and hull, a critical factor amid widespread drone use.
In response to drone threats, Ukraine has used cage armour, elements of reactive protection and additional armour plates. Australia has transferred the tanks in their most basic form, with further fitting-out and upgrades left to the Ukrainian side.
ABC News reports that Australia has provided about US$1.7 billion in military and financial support to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion.
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