The United States officially approved the delivery of the first batch of Abrams tanks to Ukraine

The United States has officially approved the delivery of the first batch of Abrams tanks to Ukraine, designed to strengthen the country's defense capabilities. According to CNN, these massive combat vehicles are expected to arrive in Ukraine in early fall of this year.

Doug Bush, the chief of the U.S. Army's acquisition office, announced the decision to transfer the tanks last weekend. He noted that the tanks are ready to be shipped, and that they will be accompanied by ammunition, spare parts, fuel equipment and repair facilities. This complete package will help maintain the equipment and ensure readiness for defense.

In January 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden announced a plan to transfer 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Given that the production and shipment of the new version of the M1A2 tank could take one to two years, the United States decided to transfer the older version of the M1A1 to Ukraine, which would allow them to be delivered to the combat zone in a relatively short period of eight to ten months.

In May, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also reaffirmed America's commitment to deliver the tanks to Ukraine in early fall. At the same time, the Pentagon confirmed the delivery of 31 M1 Abrams training tanks to Germany to train Ukrainian crews.

In addition, the Ukrainian military has been given the opportunity to receive general military instruction in Germany. The training is being conducted for about 200 Ukrainian soldiers, and an additional number of soldiers are being trained in the maintenance of American tanks.

According to USA Today, the United States is modifying Abrams tanks intended for delivery to the Ukrainian army by removing classified technology from them. This is done to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Russian occupiers.