US, Germany to send armored fighting vehicles to Ukraine The Americans supply Bradleys and the Germans supply Marders. Earlier this week, France announced the delivery of AMX-10 RC armored fighting vehicles to Ukraine. According to military sources in Washington, the decision to send modern infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine is the last step before more powerful Western vehicles are delivered. They can play a decisive role on the battlefield.

These are Germany’s Panther tanks and the US Army’s advanced M1 Abrams. So far, both Berlin and Washington have been very reluctant to do so, as it would go down badly with Moscow – after US Himars missile systems have previously had a lot of impact on the battlefield, to the detriment of Russia.

In Washington, the paper says, President Biden’s entourage — despite recent combat vehicle deliveries — is still “concerned” not to provoke Moscow too much by sending the upgraded M1 to Ukraine. Politics. Last weekend, a makeshift Russian camp in Donetsk was destroyed by US Himars precision rifles. Russia is still mourning hundreds of soldiers.

On the battlefield, heavy Western tanks — unlike the less powerful combat vehicles offered now — can shred tanks the Russians throw into battle, experts say. Cheetahs and Abramis are highly mobile, accurate and long-ranged. In addition, military bloggers report that they are more efficient at protecting advancing troops than older tanks and more effective than Western infantry fighting vehicles offered now.

Ukrainian President Zelensky — who daily mourns the many fallen soldiers liberating the occupied territories — knows this better than anyone. “There is no rational reason why Western tanks have not yet been delivered to Ukraine,” he said recently.

Some U.S. experts posit that reason: Because the requested M1s are complex weapons and require more training and logistical support, Ukraine could do more harm than good from them. The M1 tank section absorbs about 600,000 liters of fuel every day. That alone is a logistical challenge that could slow the movement of Ukrainian troops, the defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Politics.

The logistical requirements of the Bradley were much less onerous than those of the M1. “Our M1s will be a logistical burden for us [Oekraïne] “We don’t want to impose until we’re sure they’re ready,” said a former US general.

The US has reportedly already sent more than 2,000 combat vehicles to Ukraine. Germans and Americans will now train Ukrainian soldiers with Bradleys and Marters. America has been using Bradleys since the 1980s and has thousands. “Brad’s not a tank, but it might be a tank killer,” tweeted retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, former commander of US forces in Europe.

The latest support package includes the radar-guided Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft missiles, which can be launched from sea or land to intercept aircraft or cruise missiles. With some improvements, Ukrainian soldiers have succeeded in modifying existing Soviet-era BUK installations so that they can now penetrate the Sea Sparrow, US media report.

So far, only Taiwan uses land-launched missiles, while the US and several allied navies use ship-mounted versions. Following the United States’ example, Germany also offers a Patriot system that can shoot down missiles and aircraft from the sky at high altitudes.

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