Copyright © 2024 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

Forbes: Ukraine up-armors its remaining Abrams tanks, adds anti-drone jamming

These upgrades aim to preserve the remaining tanks amid losses and limited replacements, with potential reinforcements from Australia under consideration.
forbes ukraine remaining up-armors its abrams tanks adds anti-drone jamming m1 tank ukrainian army's 47th mechanized brigade sporting additional reactive armor cage jammer
M1 Abrams tank of the Ukrainian Army’s 47th Mechanized Brigade, sporting additional reactive armor, anti-drone cage and a jammer. Screenshot: Telegram/47th Brigade
Forbes: Ukraine up-armors its remaining Abrams tanks, adds anti-drone jamming

On 7 October, Ukraine’s elite 47th Mechanized Brigade unveiled significant upgrades to its surviving M1 Abrams tanks, showcasing the country’s efforts to adapt to evolving battlefield threats in its ongoing war with Russia.

These enhancements come as the 47th Mechanized Brigade rotated off the eastern front line early last month, following 15 months of intense combat in some of the war’s bloodiest battles. The brigade took with it the survivors of the 31 American-made M1 Abrams tanks that initially equipped its tank battalion.

The video posted by the 47th Mechanized on Telegram shows the unit’s M1s have been fitted with advanced protective systems. These modifications include US-made reactive armor blocks on the sides and Ukrainian-made reactive armor blocks on the turrets, as well as locally-crafted anti-drone cage armor, and FPV drone-grounding radio jammers, Forbes notes.

Forbes says the upgrades are specifically tailored to counter two primary threats faced by Ukrainian forces: anti-tank missiles and explosive drones. The reactive armor is designed to explode outward, deflecting incoming missile warheads, while the cage armor and jammers work to disable and block explosive drones.

Despite shipping hundreds of surplus M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles to keep the brigade’s assault battalions equipped, the US has not sent replacement M1s beyond the initial 31 tanks delivered a year ago. While the exact number of surviving tanks remains unclear, analysts at the open-source intelligence group Oryx have documented six destroyed Abrams and eight damaged or abandoned ones, which suggest the brigade may have between 17 and 25 M-1s remaining.

In light of these constraints, there are reports that Australia is considering donating 59 surplus M-1A1SA tanks recently retired from the Australian army. Such a donation could potentially allow the 47th Mechanized Brigade to replenish its existing tank battalion and possibly form a second one, Forbes notes.

Related:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here

You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

Please leave your suggestions or corrections here



    Euromaidan Press

    We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content. Thank you!