Why Are Western Tanks a Concern for Ukraine?

Ukraine is receiving tanks from the West just in time for winter, but will these tanks be a burden rather than a gift? Read today's spectacular new narrative to see why Ukraine will have difficulties once they get their hands on NATO tanks. 🥵🥶😩

The west has finally consented to send contemporary tanks to Ukraine. While Ukraine stunned the world by repelling the Russians, they were confronted with a serious issue: they had a limited amount of resources and relied on the West to keep sending them aid. But will its soldiers be trained in time for their arrival? The T-84, Ukraine's sole major battle tank, was an older model based on a Soviet design, so the west was hesitant to supply tanks as one of the resources. This tank is quick and has a strong gun, but it is deficient in many modern tank features. They launched a full-court press to acquire western tanks, but it wouldn't be simple. Any new weapon delivery to Ukraine is an escalation, according to Russia, which could start a third world war. No one is certain what will actually cause Vladimir Putin to retaliate, despite the fact that at times this feels a lot like the boy who cried wolf—loudly and repeatedly.

So far, the west has denied any requests for offensive weapons that could hit Russia, like long-range missiles or fighter jets. There was an odd standoff because neither Germany nor the US wanted to give up the game of chicken before the other when it came to tanks. The US, Britain, and Germany were all willing to consider it but were reluctant to go first. However, eventually it gave way, and now tanks are moving toward Ukraine. But Ukraine isn't getting just one kind of tank, or even two. Three of the best modern tanks are joining the battle. The first is the British Challenger 2 tank, which has been in use since 1998 and has been used by the British army and their Arab allies in Oman. It has a four-man crew, high-tech armor, a chain gun, a machine gun, and a five-inch tank gun that can fire high-explosive and armor-piercing rounds.

The Challenger 2 is no longer regarded as the most powerful or technologically advanced tank, but it is still regarded as one of the toughest. Only one Challenger 2 has ever been destroyed in combat, in Iraq, and that was because it was caught in a friendly-fire incident with its hatch open. Although a new replacement tank is being developed, the Challenger 2 isn't expected to be retired anytime soon, and Great Britain has now committed to sending 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine. Yet, this is just the beginning. The other two modern tanks were the real prize, and both Germany and the United States were hesitant to send them. The German Leopard II tank is presented first, third-generation tank that has been in use since 1979 and is now the main tank for the German Army as well as thirteen other European nations as well as countries in South America and Asia.

A contemporary high-tech tank, it is distinguished by its smoothbore cannon, which is equipped with a digital fire control system, a laser rangefinder, and cutting-edge night vision technology. This makes it ideal for a high-tech conflict, which has recently taken place in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Syria. Its crew consists of four people, just like the Challenger. This tank has already been discovered in nations near Ukraine, including Poland. While those governments were willing to donate some of the tanks to the cause, the contract's conditions required German approval before the tanks could be sent to another nation. Germany ultimately consented to send fourteen tanks to begin with and up to 88 in total, with deliveries set to begin in spring 2023.

But the biggest gun might be coming from the other side of the Atlantic. Even though it has been in use since 1980, the M1 Abrams tank is still regarded as one of the best in the world. It is also among the heaviest, weighing nearly 10 tons more than the Leopard II. This was the first US tank to feature a multifuel turbine engine, a computerized fire control system, and separate ammunition storage. Although it uses a German smoothbore tank gun that is authorized for use, the Leopard's Leopard has many completely different features. Also on board are a commander, gunner, loader, and driver, making up its four-person crew. The Abrams tank, which is also used by Australia, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Kuwait, has survived numerous attempts to replace it with new generations of tanks.

Zelensky had his eye on the Abrams, and now 31 of the tanks will be delivered to Ukraine as part of a humanitarian aid package. There is only one problem. These tanks are all high-tech devices with various development histories that require extensive training to master. Additionally, each of the three has a different set of requirements for certification as a crew member. Top Ukrainian military personnel will therefore need to begin training as soon as possible to master them. The decision-makers will need to carefully allocate their resources to ensure that all three tanks are used effectively now that three different tanks are arriving in Ukraine. And perhaps it's already started. First to arrive was the Challenger 2 tank, and by the end of January, Ukrainian troops had already been dispatched to the UK for initial training.

The training for this tank, which is the oldest of the bunch, is expected to last about five weeks. As a result, the Ukrainians will have several weeks to familiarize themselves with the weapon before it is used in Ukraine. Each of these tough tanks is expected to cost around $5 million, and their importance in the upcoming conflict with Russia's spring mobilization cannot be overstated. While the Challenger will probably touch down soon, the others might not. A Russian news outlet reported that the Leopard 2 tank would be arriving in Ukraine at the end of January 2023, but that it might not be of much use to them for a while. They asserted that it would take Ukrainians years to fully learn how to operate Leopard tanks and that maintenance and upkeep would be a constant issue.

Of course they would say that, and Ukrainians and their supporters responded in response to this. However, while Russia may be exaggerating the learning curve for these modern tanks, the Leopard 2 does require extensive training. It takes at least five weeks and possibly as long as two months, according to the majority of official estimates, to fully master the features of Leopard 2. The hardest to master might be the American entry. Due to their distance and delayed approval, the Abrams are most likely to be the last to arrive in Ukraine. The Leopard and Challenger use diesel fuel, while the Abrams uses a different type of fuel. The Abrams, on the other hand, runs on a mix of diesel and jet fuel, which is much more difficult to find and keep in stock. The high-tech features of the Abrams also extend the training period, so Ukrainian soldiers who train on this tank will spend a little longer in school.

On the M1 Abrams, the standard training period is ten weeks, but those preparing for specialized roles may need up to six months of advanced individual training. This creates a challenging situation for everyone in Ukraine. The majority of analysts think that the war is currently at a standstill because neither army is willing to make a significant move due to the chilly winter. Given that neither you nor Russia ever invades anyone else during the winter, it stands to reason that neither do they. The city of Bakhmut, which was largely destroyed at the start of the war, has seen the majority of the fighting take place in brief skirmishes. The majority of military analysts, however, assert that Russia is remobilizing its forces and planning to send them in through Belarus from various locations in the east, south, and possibly even from the north.

Before they run out of manpower and equipment and have no real way to resupply them due to sanctions, this may be Russia's last, desperate effort to infiltrate deeply into Ukraine. Maximizing the efficiency of these modern tanks could therefore be crucial. With a potential surplus of top-notch military hardware, Ukraine is here facing a crucial test as a modern army. The armor and weapons on each of these tanks are state-of-the-art, but they are each best suited for a different mission. The Leopard II is a general-purpose tank that works well in most circumstances.

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