Abrams tanks struggle against drone warfare in the Ukrainian conflict

Colonel James Modlin, Deputy Commandant at the U.S. Army Armor School, admitted that American vehicles face problems in Ukraine because they must adapt to new wartime conditions. This also applies to Abrams tanks, many of which the Ukrainians have already lost.

Ukraine received 31 Abrams tanks as part of the support package. All of them are M1A1 variants. A publication in Military Watch magazine suggested that the Russians have already managed to destroy or damage 20 of these tanks. These figures are not based on documented Ukrainian losses, but even those are not optimistic. According to the creators of the Oryx blog, which aims to document material losses of the warring parties in Ukraine, Russians have already eliminated 13 American tanks. This has been confirmed by photos and footage from the front.

In April this year, General Waldemar Skrzypczak, former commander of the Polish Land Forces, said in an interview with WP Tech that Abrams tanks are not invincible. The Russians have proven this through the use of drones, among other means. These drones have proven to be a significant threat to the American vehicles delivered to the front, and the local authorities are drawing conclusions which are already translating into plans for building new units and training.

Colonel James Modlin said, " It's something we've been talking about for a while, but now we're starting to see it play out a little bit more prevalent in conflicts." In the context of drones' growing role on the battlefield, he added that the competencies of a professional army start with understanding the threat, but they don't end there. Therefore, we pay close attention to the conclusions drawn abroad and observe what is happening worldwide.

Drones used by the Russians (as well as the Ukrainians) are often not advanced units specially prepared for army needs but small, cheap, and commercial models. They have cameras providing live feeds and small explosive charges. They operate on the principle of kamikaze weapons. Thanks to air operations, they can conduct proper reconnaissance and precisely locate enemy equipment. A skilled drone pilot can carry out a precise attack and hit a weak point (in the tank, this is often located at the top of the entire structure).

The M1A1 Abrams tanks were produced from 1985 to 1992. Designers did not anticipate at that time that they would have to fight in conditions where drones were one of the opponent's main weapons. To some extent, the modifications used by the Ukrainians, in the form of canopies, metal nets, and Kontakt-1 reactive armour blocks, are helpful.

The sides, especially the frontal armour, of the M1A1 Abrams tanks are very durable. These machines' offensive capabilities are also impressive, significantly greater than those of the Soviet-era tanks common in the armies of Russia and Ukraine.

American machines are equipped with a 120 mm calibre cannon with a length of 44 calibres and machine guns of 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm. Ukrainian soldiers appreciate Abrams tanks' accuracy, excellent stabilisation, and manoeuvrability despite their heavy weight (about 62 metric tonnes).