US to Deliver Abrams Tanks to Ukraine Without Sensitive Technologies

The US will transfer M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, which will have sensitive high-tech components removed beforehand, reports USA Today, citing anonymous American officials.

“The Ukrainians will receive tanks that are technologically less advanced and do not contain sensitive components that Russia could use,” said two US officials who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, according to the newspaper.

According to US officials and military experts, “this is a necessary precaution in case Russia captures such tanks...”

USA Today reminds that the US had earlier decided to transfer older versions of the M1 Abrams to Ukraine, specifically the M1A1 tanks. It is noted that the newer models, the M1A2, have improved guidance systems compared to the older tanks.

Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder stated that the US has decided to deliver the older versions of the M1 Abrams to Ukraine to expedite the supply process. However, Ryder did not specify how many M1A1 tanks Washington intends to supply to Kyiv.

In turn, the Associated Press noted that initially, the discussion was about the delivery of 31 tanks of the newer M1A2 version for Ukraine, which could take one to two years.