Ukrainian forces have been utilizing US-supplied M1A1 Abrams tanks, which have been modified with Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor (ERA), ARAT ERA, and additional cage armor to enhance their protection. Despite these modifications, Ukrainian crews have reported significant issues with the tanks' performance on the battlefield. The $10 million vehicles are criticized for lacking sufficient armor against modern threats such as drones, with reports indicating that five tanks have been destroyed by Russian forces. Technical problems have also been highlighted, with soldiers expressing dissatisfaction over the tanks' effectiveness, including an incident where 17 rounds fired at a target failed to achieve the desired result. Ukrainian maintenance and engineer troops spent months trying to implement these modifications. CNN reported that the tanks are currently in service with the Ukrainian 47th Mechanized Brigade, actively engaging in combat operations.
US Abrams tanks' armor is failing in Ukraine https://t.co/BEjelHx4aV https://t.co/2RYBXI4A2N
Archive video of a US-supplied M1A1 Abrams tank in service of the Ukrainian 47th Mechanized Brigade firing multiple shells at Russian positions on the territory of the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant https://t.co/HCoOMvbY01
🚨🇺🇦🇺🇸 U.S ABRAMS TANKS ARE FAILING ON UKRAINE’S BATTLEFIELD Ukrainian commanders are reportedly unhappy with the performance of the tanks, claiming they lack sufficient armor against modern threats like drones after Russia destroyed 5 of them. They claim technical issues, such… https://t.co/PY6oalO4Ts
🇺🇸🇺🇦 The "Abrams" is actually pretty sh*t! - Ukrainian Soldiers "Its armor is not sufficient for this era." "Once we fired 17 rounds into a house and it was still standing." https://t.co/h42GMoE8Sm
Abrams tanks problematic on battlefield, Ukrainian crews say Ukrainian crews maintaining US-supplied M1 Abrams tanks say there are numerous problems with using the armored vehicles on the battlefield, CNN reported. The crews said the $10 million vehicles do not have sufficient… https://t.co/8jlLD8Oc6p
📷 Ukrainian maintenance and engineer troops spent months trying to implement ERA and cage armor on the US-supplied M1A1 Abrams tanks. It seems they finally managed to find a way. #UkrainianArmy https://t.co/qEqYythQ2j
First time seeing a Ukraine-operated M1A1 Abrams tank with a "cope cage". The vehicle is also equipped with added slat armor on the turret and Kontakt-1 ERA on the frontal hull, as well as its standard ARAT ERA on the sides. https://t.co/MKidqlWdqe
US-supplied M1A1 Abrams MBT in Ukrainian service, sporting a large amount of Kontakt-1 ERA on the hull and extensive turret cage armor. https://t.co/1nRQAFB961
Ukrainian Abrams with Kontakt-1 and anti-drone cages https://t.co/elC1f37Iln https://t.co/jeKwodJlTG