Ukraine got America’s top tank without the latest and greatest armor upgrades, which are ‘top secret,’ but it’s adding its own

He described the add-ons as necessary because “the Americans took off some of the secret armor,” a change which makes “them more vulnerable to direct fire.”

It’s unclear how effective the more advanced armor would be against the mass use of exploding drones, but the greater protection would still aid Ukraine against the proliferation of different Russian threats facing armor on the battlefield.

The US’ own Abrams tanks have composite armor that includes depleted uranium, an often misunderstood material that is also used in tank rounds. The details of the armor are kept secret.

Three people with knowledge of the plans told Politico in January 2023, months before the tanks were sent, that the US planned to send the newer M1A2 Abrams but with the secretive depleted-uranium armor removed. The US removes the armor from any of the tanks it exports to allies and partners, the report said.

Ukraine’s military also said that was the plan, that the depleted uranium in the M1A2 Abrams’ composite armor would be replaced by conventional armored steel.

But the plans changed. The US decided instead to send older M1A1s, as they could get to Ukraine faster. Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder said the excess hulls the US already had would be refurbished and refitted to create M1A1s able to be sent to Ukraine. These older tanks lack the top armor upgrades.

When asked about the tanks, Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. Charlie Dietz told BI that the Department of Defense “can’t provide the specifics on the details but can confirm that they were the export variants.” That confirmation indicates that the armor on the Abrams tanks, among certain other things, was downgraded prior to delivery.

A different type of war

This war is a particularly intense conflict and different from ones the West has fought, with drones being used more than in any other conflict in history and a huge amount of missiles and artillery in play. Combat vehicles of all types have struggled.

Some Ukrainian soldiers have said the armor the Abrams tanks came with “is not sufficient for this moment” with so many drones attacking from above. Drones have been used to damage and destroy tanks, as well as to guide other weaponry to hit the vehicles.

This war has been a tough one for tanks. Russia had lost more than 3,000 as of February, the International Institute for Strategic Studies reported at the time. And Ukraine has lost tanks too, including at least five of its 31 Abrams.

Ukraine having so few of them, many experts say, has made things difficult for Ukraine, as it has to keep the precious few it has intact, and it doesn’t have enough to mount any large armor offensives.

De Bretton-Gordon said that if Ukraine had more Abrams and Challenger tanks, “they would use them differently.” But instead, “the drip feeding of kit'” to Ukraine means “they’ve been fighting with one hand behind their back.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy has lamented the limited number of Abrams.

Bradleys have been seen as more successful, even taking on Russian tanks.

At least part of the explanation may be that Ukraine has been given more, at more than 300. De Bretton-Gordon said it was key that Ukraine “has a lot of them.” Ukraine has been using the vehicles as a kind of light tank.

He praised Ukrainians for being “very innovative” in coming up with ways to protect against drones while on the battlefield. He said Western militaries will be watching Ukraine to see what they might be able to learn.

Ryan Pickrell contributed to this report.