Key Points and Summary – Despite initial optimism, the deployment of advanced Western tanks like the M1 Abrams, Leopard 2, and Challenger 2 has not changed the tide of the war in Ukraine.
-These tanks have suffered significant losses, particularly to Russian FPV drones, anti-tank missiles, and extensive, well-prepared minefields.
-This underwhelming performance stems from several factors: the tanks weren’t designed for modern drone-centric warfare, and Ukraine and the West made a “fatal mistake” by underestimating Russian anti-tank capabilities and employing poor battle planning in major offensives.
The Ukraine War vs. Western Tanks: Who Wins?
When it was first announced that Western-made tanks were being sent to Ukraine, pro-Ukrainian circles were ecstatic.
Ultimately, Ukraine would have the means to repel the Russian invaders and reclaim its territory.
As time has gone by, this celebration was extremely premature.
The Ukrainians continued to lose ground, and now footage was circulating of Western tanks burning.
What happened? How come the West’s technologically superior tanks have not seemed to have made a difference in the conflict?
In some areas, Western-made armor has helped the Ukrainians, but overall, they have not changed the tide of the war.
The Leopard 2
The Leopard 2 is the Western tank that has arguably performed the best in Ukraine and is also the tank that was delivered in the highest quantity, second only to the Leopard 1. In 2023, a coalition of European countries agreed to provide the advanced MBTs to Ukraine to support their fight against the Russians.
This coalition consisted of Germany, Poland, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and several other European nations.
In total, Ukraine received over 100 Leopard 2 2A4 and 2A6 tanks. Sweden also donated 10 Stridsvagn 122s, which are equivalent to the Leopard 2A5.
The Leopard’s first combat debut was in the fields of Zaporizhzhia during the 2023 counteroffensive. Unfortunately, this ill-fated operation did not show off the tank’s strengths very well.
The Leopard 2 was unable to breach the extensive Russian minefields and proved to be an easy target for Russian attack helicopters, which easily recognized the tank’s large profile. After the disastrous summer, the tanks were dispersed throughout Ukraine, where they had a bit more success.
CINCU, Romania – U.S. Army Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, setup their M1 Abram Tanks during Getica Saber 17, July 10, 2017. Getica Saber 17 is a U.S.-led fire support coordination exercise and combined arms live fire exercise that incorporates six allied and partner nations with more than 4,000 Soldiers. Getica Saber 17 runs concurrent with Saber Guardian 17, a U.S. Army Europe-led, multinational exercise that spans across Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania with more than 25,000 service members from 22 allied and partner nations. Image Credit: US Military.
In several instances, the Leopard 2 was able to win tank duels against Russian tanks. The tank’s survivability also proved beneficial, as tank crews were able to evacuate the tanks even when they were hit successfully.
The M1A1 Abrams Tank
The M1 Abrams did not achieve the same level of success as the Leopard. In 2023, the U.S. under President Biden pledged to provide 31 M1A1SA tanks to Ukraine, which were delivered in September of that year. The Australian government also promised to give around 49 Abrams tanks, although it is uncertain whether these have been delivered yet.
The Abrams garnered a fearsome reputation after its valiant performance in the Gulf War and the U.S.’s processing operations in the Middle East. In terms of armor, survivability, and technology, the Abrams far exceeds even the most advanced Russian tanks on paper.
In Practice, however, the Abrams barely got to see any Russian armor. The M1 debuted in early 2024 to defend the fortress city of Avdeevka. It was there that the first M1 Abrams was lost to Russian fire. Several Abrams tanks were quickly knocked out due to FPV drone swarms and ATGMs, such as the Kornet.
An M1A2 Abrams tanks, assigned to 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, maneuver into fighting position during a battalion live-fire range during Agile Spirit 19 at Orpholo Training Area, Georgia, August 9, 2019. AgS19 is a joint, multinational exercise co-led by the Georgian Defense Forces and U.S. Army Europe which incorporates a command post exercise, field training and joint multinational live fires. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. True Thao)
Despite Ukrainian tank crews initially praising the Abrams for its reliability and survivability, the losses continued to mount.
The Abrams was temporarily pulled from the front lines at the request of the Americans for more training and combat modifications. The tank was spotted again in the now infamous Kursk incursion.
There, it met a similar fate at the hands of FPV drones. In June 2025, Ukrainian news outlets reported that of the 31 vehicles delivered in 2023, only four remained.
The Challenger 2 Tank
The Challenger 2 is tied with the M1 Abrams for one of the least effective Western tanks in the entire war.
Like the Abrams, the Challenger had built up a reputation for its reliability and firepower. The British Ministry of Defense had boasted that not one Challenger 2 had been lost to enemy firepower.
In 2023, the UK announced that it would be sending 14 tanks to Ukraine. Not long after, Ukrainian troops were sent to Britain, where they received an accelerated training course. The tankers returned to Ukraine with their new tanks in March of 2023.
The Challenger 2 debuted alongside the Leopard 2 during the Summer 2023 counteroffensive. Ukrainian crews praised the Challenger 2 for the accuracy, comparing it to a sniper rifle (a tagline often repeated by the British MoD).
Unfortunately, not long afterwards, the first Challenger 2 in history was lost to enemy fire. Much like the Abrams, after its initial combat debut, the Challenger 2 was quickly pulled from the front lines. The Challenger 2 remained in the Western part of Ukraine, where it was used for photo ops and propaganda shoots.
It would not return to combat until 2024, when it participated in the Kursk offensive, an operation that ultimately failed.
So far, at least five Challengers have been visually confirmed destroyed, while at least two others have been damaged.
Know Thy Enemy
So why is it that Western armor has been so underwhelming in Ukraine?
Is it because Western tanks are inferior or outdated? ‘
I would argue that several factors have contributed to these tanks’ poor performance. First is that Western tanks were not designed with today’s drone-centric warfare in mind.
In Ukraine, drones can easily hit engine compartments, ammo racks, driver’s hatches, and so on. If one drone is not enough, then there are at least four more waiting to strike.
The fact that Western armor is larger and has very recognizable profiles does not help. In this environment, every tank is an easy target, not just Western models.
Secondly, Ukraine and the West vastly underestimated Russian anti-tank capabilities, with reports pouring in about the low state of preparedness/morale in the Russian army.
Senior decision-makers assumed that Russian troops would retreat the moment they saw Western tanks.
This was a fatal mistake. With extensive use of land mines, the Russians were able to fix Ukrainian tank columns in position and pick them off one by one. FPV drones and Konet ATGMs were able to penetrate the tanks, regardless of whether they were Leopards or Abrams tanks.
So, what can Ukraine and the West learn from this? Firstly, quality alone does not decide wars. With fewer than 400 Western tanks sent, Ukraine still lacked the firepower to push back the Russians. Secondly, better offensive battle planning is required. In Zaporizhzhia and Kursk, Ukraine entered headfirst into waiting Russian positions and found itself easy prey.
Better intelligence and operational planning are needed in the future to determine areas where Russian defenses are weakest.
About the Author:
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
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