Defense News reports that the US Army is delaying its planned Abrams Tank improve and is thinking about a different strategy. In essence, the Army is claiming that the tank is very large and susceptible to enemy weapons. & nbsp,
In Ukraine, there have been operational issues with large German tanks and armoured vehicles, frequently getting stuck in mud or running out of fuel. Additionally, enemy fire has shown to be weak on Western vehicles. Andnbsp, Germany’s Leopard cylinder, which was thought to be superior to the Abrams, has frequently performed poorly.
With the help of a variety of weapons, including gun, helicopter-launched missiles, and drones like the Lancet, the Russians have already decimated about 15 Leopards. Leopard has proven to be a disappointment despite being touted as the next great thing to support Ukraine win the war.
However, when Abrams tanks arrive in Ukraine, what happened to Leopards could also happen to them.
Both the Leopard and the Abrams lack reactive armor or effective defense mechanisms. Additionally, the Russian army hastily applied responsive gear removed from damaged Russian tanks to the Leopards that were delivered to Kiev. In addition, & nbsp,
Because its hybrid gear is designed to avert anti-tank weapons like penetrator gun rounds fired by opposing tanks or combination load weapons, leopard was not supposed to require responsive armor. & nbsp, However, even with the first-generation reactive armor that the Ukrainians added to Leopard, the Russians were able to easily destroy them.
On the battlefield of today, tanks face a number of dangers that can either kill or disable them. These include mining, gun, and anti-tank weapons, among others.
Tanks and armoured vehicles like the US M-2 Bradley and the German Marder troops fighting vehicles have been destroyed by the Russians using the Ka-52 attack helicopter. The Ka-52 is outfitted with two S – 8 unguided air-to-surface 80mm rocket pods and six 9K121 Vikhr anti-tank missiles, according to & nbsp.
The Ka – 52s have destroyed quite a few vehicles, troops fighting cars, and heavily armored mine-resistant, ambush-protective vehicles( MRAPs) while operating in an environment where the Russians use digital jam. Tanks equipped with unique wheel fixtures to certain mines have been among the victims.
Some contemporary vehicles are built to be mine-resistant. The new Israeli tank, Merkava V, is reportedly built to be able to deflect mines and makeshift explosive devices( IEDs ) as a sign of recognition of this deficiency. & nbsp,
Additionally, Merkava has improved its active defenses to better combat more contemporary anti-tank weapons, such as the nbsp, missiles, rocket-propelled grenades( RPGs ), high-explosive( HEAT ) rounds, and rockets.
The US’s supply of depleted uranium ( DU ) shells to Ukraine for the soon-to-arrive Abrams tanks is due in part to the idea that any Russian tank could be penetrated by the DU & nbsp, APFDS, and npspe shell.
At least in the current Russian active defence strategy against the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Russian techniques ensure that its vehicles are often exposed to counter-tank fire. & nbsp, However, if Russia launches an offensive, the situation might alter and Abrams tanks could start firing at Russian tanks.
US tanks, like their Leopard counterpart, still lack active defenses, whether or not the DU and Abram’s & nbsp combination proves to be effective.
A tank can be shielded from a variety of threats by lively defenses, which could also allow for the removal of traditional shield and lessen the burden of the defense system.
For instance, effective protection can prevent the enemy from using suicide drones like the Russian Lancet. For instance, the Trophy active protection system from & nbsp, Israel, has 360-degree policy and can shield a tank’s vulnerable topside from drones, rocket launchers, and mortars.
The Army has bought 100 Trophy products from Israel, but it claims that the program is” to large” and wants to look into other choices( which is typical of how the Army thinks and behaves). Fighting tanks and army in the US lack effective protection systems.
The Army is currently considering a” hybrid” pond that will use less gas. & nbsp, Even if a hybrid tank is only powered by electricity when it is not in use( which can be for several hours ), it would still need an enormous lithium battery. & nbsp,
Lithium batteries frequently explode, so placing them in vehicles invites power fire and explosions. Fire is one of the biggest foes of pond crews, according to nbsp.
The Army is even considering outfitting the Abrams with more cameras and sophisticated artificial intelligence. This is the route the Israeli Merkava V has even taken, and it unquestionably enhances that ship’s capabilities on the field. & nbsp,
The next-generation German tank, which will be developed by a German-led consortium, may also place more emphasis on improved sensors and artificial intelligence.
Those who consider current pond war and reservoir survivability have had their eyes opened by the conflict in Ukraine. In response to what was revealed on the Ukrainian battle, the US Army today understands that it needs to change course.
Nobody can predict whether the Army’s decision to seek a different set of solutions may be successful.
Senior fellow Stephen Bryen & nbsp works for the Yorktown Institute and the Center for Security Policy. & nbsp, His Substack on Weapons and Strategy, was the original title of this article. Asia Times is republishing the content with their consent, nbsp.