Ukrainian M1A1 Abrams tanks supplied by Australia have received extensive anti-drone upgrades and have already seen combat near Pokrovsk, according to the 425th Separate Assault Regiment “Skala,” the unit operating the vehicles on December 23.

The footage shows the Abrams tanks fitted with additional passive armor and explosive reactive armor blocks mounted on the turret, upper frontal plate, and hull sides. The reactive protection consists of Kontakt-1 modules—an older but still effective system widely used to counter shaped-charge threats.

War isn’t funny, but the general dismissal of the Abrams MBT as an absolutely terrifying weapon to fight against by the international community is pretty funny. This is like the war equivalent of releasing a grizzly bear back into a habitat for the first time since it was killed off and pushed out by humans, yeah the unexperienced grizzly bears are going to make stupid mistakes but they are grizzly bears you know. These aren’t shitty Russian tanks, these are actual modern main battle tanks.

It hardly needs to be said, but it is pretty insulting Ukraine hasn’t been given more Abrams tanks by the US and others, this is precisely what they were designed to do.

  • Fluke@feddit.uk
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    2 days ago

    Tanks have proven time and again to be little more than giant bullseyes in this conflict. Yeah, granted, these aren’t Russian tanks, but they’re still easy game for cheap AF kamikaze quads.

    That means a lot more support personnel to keep tanks alive and in the fight, which makes them less valuable than you’d initially think.

    • bluGill@fedia.io
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      2 days ago

      that is false. Tanks used according to good doctrine as part of a well trained forces remain very useful. Don’t confuse Russia’s misuse of tanks and the resulting losses for tanks are useless.

      • ThomasWilliams@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        Why do you think the Australians gave them away ?

        The Abrams are white elephants that use vast quantities of fuel and get bogged in sand.

        • ThisGuyThat@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          The abrams crossed the sand filled terrain in Iraq and engaged in multiple tank battles just fine. They can be powered by different types of fuel too.

    • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyzOP
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      2 days ago

      …which is why Ukrainian battlefield commanders deployed Abrams tanks straight into the most intense flashpoint of the Ukrainian war at this moment?..?

    • ThisGuyThat@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      It was initially, but they’ve been hardened against drones. Anti drone techniques have caught up. Wireless jamming has caused drones to be tethered to fiber spools for control.