Army Secretary Says Tanks May Not Reach Ukraine This Year
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army is weighing how to get M1 Abrams tanks are sent to UkraineThey may not arrive until next years, however, according to the secretary of the service.
U.S. President Joe Biden said in January that he would send 31 General Dynamics Land Systems-made tank to Ukraine. This is a reverse of the course taken by Germany, which allowed Europe to send its main battle tank.
The capability will strengthen Ukraine’s defenses against Russian invaders in preparation for an expected onslaught this spring. However, Abrams tanks won’t likely reach Ukraine before then.
“We’re looking at what’s the fastest way we can get the tanks to the Ukrainians,” Christine Wormuth addressed reporters at a Thursday breakfast. “It’s not going to be a matter of weeks.”
“None of the options that we’re exploring are weeks or two months,” She went on. “There are longer timelines involved, but I think there are options that are less than two years, less than a year-and-a-half.”
Wormuth said that it’s not yet known if tanks might arrive by the end the year.
“There are a variety of different ways” She said that the best way to make tanks is by building them. “from scratch” As the U.S. does for Poland, they also draw from their inventory of older tanks, many of them refurbished.
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Wormuth pointed out that the Abrams tanks are not only delivered by Wormuth, but also support equipment such as recovery vehicles, ammunition, and a training program. “There’s a lot of details still that need to be worked out,” She spoke.
According to Wormuth the Army will present the options and then they will be shared with Lloyd Austin, Defense Secretary.
Last year, Poland was joined by the U.S. A deal was reached Poland’s defense minister last month signed an agreement to allow the country to buy 250 M1A2 Abrams tanks, to be delivered by 2025-2026. Another deal A second batch, totaling 116 more tanks, will be purchased. Poland is the European ally which first bought Abrams tanks.
“There are other [Foreign Military Sales] cases with other countries,” Wormuth spoke.
Australia, Egypt (Iraq), Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Morocco are other Abrams tank owners. Taiwan began receiving its tanks in summer 2022.
Jen Judson, a Defense News journalist who has won numerous awards for her coverage of land warfare, is an award-winning journalist. She has also worked with Politico, Inside Defense and other publications. She has a Master’s degree in journalism from Boston University, and a Bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College.
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