Australian Army to send phased-out Abrams tanks to aid Ukraine
The Ukrainian portal Kyiv Post has referred to reports about the M1A1 Abrams tanks being phased out of service in the Australian army. The publication stated that the USA's decision regarding their transfer to the front "should be a formality."
Washington's approval will be necessary since these are American-made tanks and contain equipment subject to the country's ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) export laws.
Australian M1A1 Abrams for Ukraine?
A total of 59 M1A1 Abrams tanks, concluding their service in the Australian army, are under consideration. Although the Australian authorities initially did not seem interested in transferring these machines to Ukraine, they have recently changed their stance. The Australian newspaper "The Sydney Morning Herald" reported that Defence Minister Richard Marles is exploring "how these tanks could be supplied to Ukraine."
Kyiv Post suggested that since "available" Abrams tanks are on the horizon, the United States should not see a problem transferring them to Ukraine. Such optimism stems primarily from this type of tank already being delivered to the Ukrainian army - 31 units were handed over in 2023.
What is the M1A1 Abrams equipped with?
The M1A1 Abrams is equipped with a 120 mm calibre gun with a barrel length of 44 calibres. It also has additional armament, including 12.7 mm calibre machine guns and 7.62 mm calibre machine guns. It is nearly 10 metres long, weighs about 63 tonnes, and can accelerate to about 64 km/h.
It is worth noting that the United States has supplied Ukraine with versions of the tanks featuring modified armour modules, where tungsten inserts replaced the standard depleted uranium panels.
Although reports on the Abrams tanks being phased out of service in the Australian army have not yet been published, there are suggestions that they are in good condition. Kyiv Post quotes Michael Shoebridge, a former Australian defence ministry official, who stated that "these tanks are still in good shape. The Ukrainians are fighting a war for national survival so we should get them there as soon as we can".
Senator Simon Birmingham of the Liberal Party of Australia (LPA) told Kyiv Post that "Australian support for Ukraine mustn’t be half-hearted as their fight is also a test of will for all democratic nations".
