US to Speed Up Delivery of Abrams Tanks to Ukraine to Support Fight Against Russia’s Invasion

The Pentagon is speeding up its delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine, with the aim of getting the 70-ton battle powerhouses to the war zone in eight to 10 months. US defense officials announced on Tuesday that US Patriot missile defense systems and Abram tanks will be deployed to Ukraine faster than originally planned.

A group of 65 Ukrainian soldiers will complete their training on the systems at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in the coming days. The decision was made to send the older M1A1 version, which can be taken from Army stocks and could be there before the end of the year.

The US will accelerate the time it takes to ship Abrams tanks to Ukraine by sending older M1-A1 models of America’s main battle tank instead of the newer M1A2 version. Officials said the M1A1 also will be easier for Ukrainian forces to learn to use and maintain as they fight Russia’s invasion.

The Pentagon’s decision to speed up the delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine is part of the US’s effort to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion. The US has already sent military aid to Ukraine, including Javelin anti-tank missiles and other weapons. The US has also increased its military presence in the region, with US troops and equipment being deployed to Ukraine and other countries in the region.