(Dan Tri) – Experts point out a critical weakness that could make the US M-1 Abrams tank providing aid to Ukraine vulnerable on the battlefield.
Ukraine’s M-1 Abrams tank (Photo: Ukrainian Army).
It has been two months since US M-1 tanks arrived in Ukraine.
According to Forbes, it is unclear what Ukraine is planning with the 31 Abrams that have been delivered, but there is one thing they may need to do: Additional armor for the tanks to counter UAV attacks.
FPV UAVs appeared densely along the 1,000km long front line of the more than 22-month war between Russia and Ukraine.
Forbes predicts that it is inevitable that Ukraine will lose a number of 68-ton M-1 tanks.
And they are especially vulnerable to FPV drones, which can strike where the M-1’s armor is thinnest: On top of the tank and along the sides.
Gabriel Silveira, a military expert, said: `The tank roof is big and very thin, only about 25mm thick. An FPV even with old anti-tank explosives can penetrate this place to attack a city.`
The M-1’s body armor also had problems.
Protecting the M-1 from FPV UAVs is possible, according to Forbes.
British Challenger 2 cars were fitted with additional armor plates for the lower front body.
The quickest fix for the M-1 is for protective cages to be bolted to the side and cover the top of the turret.
Mr. Silveira said that Ukraine should not add explosive reactive armor to the M-1 until the weather is drier.
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