U.S. Aid Suspension Hits Australian Abrams Tanks Transfer to Ukraine

One of the biggest tank donations to Ukraine, a potential 49 M1A1 Abrams, may be delayed indefinitely due to the suspension of U.S. military aid to Ukraine that has disrupted work of a logistics center in Poland.

The potential transfer of some 45 M1A1 Abrams tanks announced by the Australian Ministry of Defense last year has been hit due to the suspension of military assistance to Ukraine from the United States which consequently has affected the the operation of the logistics center in Poland.

The current situation will be discussed with the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, who will soon Australia soon, ABC reported.

The report notes that American officials had warned Australia against sending the tanks to Ukraine due to logistical difficulties and future maintenance.

Australia is retiring the M1A1 tanks in favor of the Abrams M1A2 tanks.

At the same time, retired Army Major General Mick Ryan quoted by ABC said that the announced M1A1 tanks are desperately needed by Ukraine. “If U.S. military logistics are unable to deliver these things in a timely manner, we should work with our Polish friends or even with private contractors — obviously, given security issues — to get these tanks to Ukraine as quickly as possible ,” he said.

Despite this, the government states that the process of preparing for the transfer of the tanks is still ongoing, but they are undergoing work as part of the dismantling of systems that were used exclusively by the Australian army.

The transfer of the M1A1 tanks to Ukraine are part of a military aid package worth $245 million. In total, Australia will transfer to Ukraine 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks, which the Australian Army used from 2007 to 2024.