The United States is just not at present ready to offer superior Abrams tanks to Ukraine, a senior Pentagon official mentioned Wednesday, citing difficulties in upkeep and coaching.
Ukraine has repeatedly pushed for contemporary Western tanks to assist battle Russia’s invasion, and Germany has reportedly linked its resolution on whether or not to take action to Washington’s willingness to offer Abrams.
“I just don’t think we’re there yet,” US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl instructed journalists when requested about offering Abrams to Ukraine, although he didn’t fully shut the door on a shift sooner or later.
“The Abrams tank is a very complicated piece of equipment. It’s expensive, it’s hard to train on, it has a jet engine — I think it’s about three gallons to the mile with jet fuel. It is not the easiest system to maintain,” Kahl mentioned.
He additionally famous that US protection chief Lloyd Austin has been eager to keep away from offering gear to Ukraine that “they can’t repair, they can’t sustain and that they over the long term can’t afford because it’s not helpful.”
Both German and US media reported that Berlin wouldn’t agree to offer Leopard tanks to Ukraine except Washington made the same resolution, however Kyiv has obtained pledges of a wide range of different armored autos.
Britain promised final weekend that it might present Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, turning into the primary nation to announce the availability of Western heavy tanks to Kyiv.
Germany and the United States mentioned final week that they’d respectively present Bradley and Marder armored autos, and France has additionally promised to offer AMX-10 RC gentle tanks.
Asked in regards to the considering behind the rise within the variety of armored autos being promised to Kyiv, Kahl mentioned they’re wanted to assist Ukrainian forces defeat more and more heavy Russian defenses.
Moscow’s troops are “digging in, they’re digging trenches, they’re putting these Dragon’s Teeth, laying mines. They’re really trying to fortify that FLOT, that forward line of troops,” he mentioned.
The intention is to “enable them to change that dynamic with these kind of static defenses by being able to fire and maneuver through the use of more mechanized forces,” Kahl mentioned.
