Key Points and Summary – Australia has begun delivering 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, a move that comes despite initial warnings from the United States about sustainability challenges.
-The effectiveness of these tanks is under heavy scrutiny, as the first batch of American-sent Abrams fared poorly in combat.
-That failure has been attributed not to the tank itself, but to flawed Ukrainian tactics where the Abrams were used in isolation.
-The success of this new Australian contingent now hinges entirely on whether Ukraine has learned its lessons and will employ the tanks correctly within a combined-arms strategy.
Will Australia’s 49 M1A1 Tanks Make A Difference In Ukraine
Australia has sent Ukraine the first batch of 49 US-built M1A1 Abrams tanks that it had promised Kyiv for its fight against Russian aggression, according to the Aussie Defense Ministry in Canberra.
The Australian government announced that Kyiv had received the majority of the 49 M1A1 tanks it had pledged, with the rest scheduled to arrive later this year. The delivery is part of a broader $1.5 billion assistance package Australia has committed to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in 2022.
“The M1A1 Abrams tanks will make a significant contribution to Ukraine’s ongoing fight against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion,” said Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. “Australia remains steadfast in our support for Ukraine and seeing a just and lasting peace.”
But the question is, will these Abrams tanks make a difference?
Will it help the Ukrainians continue to repel future Russian attacks and to aid Kyiv in any future counter-offensives?
The American M1s fared poorly when first deployed.
Despite US Misgivings, The First Aussie M1A1s Have Arrived
The delivery follows reported delays due to initial resistance from the US about the American vehicles. Washington had warned Canberra against sending the tanks, and President Trump’s decision to pause military aid earlier this year may have also added to the complications, according to the Australian outlet ABC.
Privately, American officials have expressed concern that Ukraine will struggle to sustain the complex and gas-guzzling Abrams tanks.
“Last year, even before Donald Trump returned as president, we warned the Australians that sending these Abrams tanks would be complicated, and once they finally get to the battlefield, the Ukrainians will find them difficult to sustain,” an American official told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
The U.S.-built Abrams tanks, still painted in their AusCam camouflage scheme, were loaded onto a commercial cargo ship in Geelong, Australia, in early May before beginning the trip to Ukraine.
Accompanied by Australian tank crew members, the M1A1 tanks arrived at an unidentified port in Europe, likely Poland, for servicing before being delivered to Ukraine. The service modified the tanks to meet Ukrainian requirements before shipping.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy noted that “ Australia stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine…these modified M1A1 Abrams tanks will deliver more firepower and more mobility to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They meet a direct request from the Ukrainian Government and form part of Australia’s unwavering commitment to protect the global rules-based order.”
Australia Sending AWACS Support To Ukraine
Next month, the Royal Australian Air Force will deploy an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to Europe to help protect a vital international gateway for assistance to Ukraine. The Australian Defense Force also continues to contribute to multinational efforts to train Ukrainian military personnel under Operation Kudu.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles added, “I was pleased to meet the Australian Army personnel who helped facilitate the delivery of these tanks from Australia to Ukraine. Australia remains steadfast in our support for Ukraine and sees a just and lasting peace.”
In The War of Attrition, A Bolster of Armor Is Needed
We have seen how drones have affected the battlefield in Ukraine. Both sides have become excellent not only in using them but also in defending against them. This has generally led many to believe that the era of the tank is dead. Not just yet… Armor remains a vital component of a combined arms army.
We also know how poorly the M1A1s failed in their initial usage by Ukraine. M1s were taken out in large numbers.
However, this was not due to any shortcomings of the tank; it was a result of the tactics employed. The Ukrainians don’t understand the way the Americans fight and use their armor.
The Abrams was designed to work within US combined-arms doctrine, which dictates close cooperation among mechanized forces, infantry, artillery, and air power. Because Ukraine didn’t operate that way, Russian anti-tank missiles and drones took an unnecessary toll.
Due to manpower and equipment shortages, Ukrainian Abrams tanks frequently entered combat alone, without the support of infantry or other armored vehicles. Abrams tanks are easy pickings for Russian anti-tank crews in these disadvantageous conditions.
If the Ukrainians have learned their lessons and utilize the Australian M1A1s effectively, the bolt-on cages and additional armor will help protect the tanks against the drone threat from above. The M1A1s will be able to be the effective tank they have always been.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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Jim
July 23, 2025 at 2:30 pm
The Aussie’s want to help… and say they did their part.
But will it make a difference?
What capability to engaged in Combined-Arms Maneuvers?
Kiev’s forces have never been able to do that kind of sophisticated Big Arrow operation, see Summer ’23 Offensive which was solidly defeated because Kiev’s forces were essentially naked with little to no air coverage, which is crucial to Combined-Arms Maneuvers. (This was before the advent of drones which came to dominate the battlefield and prevent massing of troops & armored vehicles.) And, it can also be persuasively argued they never had enough mine clearing units and cover to protect the mine clearers to let them do their job… a very tough job, indeed. Maybe not even enough troops to take on fortified trench systems full of fully armed soldiers, machine guns and short-range rocket systems firing at pointblank range with full helicopter gunship backup.
Drones are great defensive weapons, but it has yet to be proved they can substitute for air coverage from fighter jets in close proximity to the troops in our style of warfare as opposed to the Russian five men at a time slow-walk advance going on… but accelerating according to The New York Times and London’s the Economist. (I take the reports as admissions against interest.)
Well, since the Aussie’s are throwing in the proverbial kitchen sink… we’ll find out won’t we.
Unless the war ends before those tanks reach Ukraine from half way around the World.
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