(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Social media videos from Russia have displayed Russian troops pulling out a heavily damaged M1A1 Abrams tank, valued at $10 million (RM45 million) and weighing over 70 tons, from the battlefield in Ukraine.
Touted as the world’s best tank, the M1A1 Abrams was supplied by the United States to Ukraine as part of efforts to counter Russian advances.
It is likely that the Russian military will transport the destroyed Abrams tank to Moscow for detailed “study” by its weapons experts.
However, the destruction of these American-made tanks has somewhat tarnished their reputation, which Washington often claims to be the best and most advanced on the market.
Last year, the United States supplied 31 M1A1 Abrams tanks to the Ukrainian military, which were deployed primarily around Avdiivka in the Donetsk region just a few weeks ago.
In a short span, several of these tanks have been destroyed by Russian forces.
To date, five M1A1 Abrams tanks operated by Ukraine have been confirmed destroyed by Russian forces.
The first of these tanks to be operated by Ukraine was confirmed destroyed in early March, likely by a Russian “Lancet” suicide drone in the combat area of Avdiivka.
Reports indicate that this tank was first struck by a Lancet drone before being hit a second time by a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG).
As the number of destroyed Abrams tanks increases, Ukraine has been compelled, possibly at the direction of Washington, to withdraw these tanks from combat zones due to the excessive threat from Russian reconnaissance and suicide drones.
Two U.S. military officials told The Associated Press that the Abrams tanks provided by the United States cannot operate on the battlefield without being detected and harshly targeted by Russian drones.
Due to the drone threat, five of the 31 Abrams tanks donated by the United States to Ukraine have been confirmed destroyed by Russian forces thus far.
The presence of these tanks on Ukrainian battlefields has significantly changed the dynamics, with Russian drones posing a severe threat to the American tanks.
These reconnaissance and suicide drones have made it exceedingly difficult for Ukraine to protect the Abrams tanks, making it easy for Russian forces to locate and target these American vehicles.
The widespread threat from these drones means “there are no open and vast areas where the Abrams tanks can move undetected,” according to a military official.
Currently, the Abrams tanks have been “withdrawn” from the battlefield, and the United States will work with Ukraine to modify tactics, according to U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff Admiral Christopher Grady, who emerged as the third official to confirm the fate of the Abrams tanks in Ukraine.
Previously, the Chief of the Ukrainian Military Intelligence Directorate, Lt. Gen. Kirill Budanov, stated that the period the Abrams tanks spend on the battlefield in the country would be very limited if these ground assets are used recklessly at the front lines.
“If the Abrams tanks are utilized on the front lines or as part of combat scenarios, the duration of their presence on the battlefield may be limited and brief,” he said. — DSA