US blocks transfer of 49 Abrams tanks to Ukraine amid export approval delays

The US is reportedly preventing the transfer of 49 M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks from Australia to Ukraine, with experts attributing the delay to stalled US export approvals as the main reason for the slow progress.

Any transfer of American-made defence equipment to a third party requires formal authorisation from Washington, and the absence of this approval has hindered progress since the announcement of the transfer plan in October 2024, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

This has led to speculation that the US may intend to delay the delivery until later in the conflict, possibly after a ceasefire agreement is reached. 

Abrams tanks have faced high attrition rates on the frontlines, damaging their reputation and raising concerns about the potential for significant losses if large numbers of new tanks are deployed while the conflict is ongoing. Of the 31 Abrams tanks delivered by the United States in September 2023, over 20 have reportedly been destroyed or heavily damaged. Most of these losses occurred due to guided artillery or single-use "kamikaze" drones, though one tank was confirmed to have been taken out by a Russian T-72B3 after both tanks exchanged fire near Avdiivka.

The Abrams tanks were first deployed on February 23, with the first loss occurring just three days later. From late February to mid-April, the tanks suffered intense losses, leading to their temporary withdrawal from the frontlines in April. Ukrainian personnel have expressed dissatisfaction with the Abrams' performance, citing technical problems such as the vulnerability of electronic components to condensation and their susceptibility to Russian fire. 

One unnamed defence official speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation commented, “We are starting to doubt if the Ukrainians actually want these vehicles — the tank roof is the weakest point of the Abrams and this is a drone war.” Other Western tanks, such as the German Leopard 2A6, have also faced difficulties, with the Leopard 2A6 quickly suffering heavy losses after being deployed in mass Ukrainian offensives in June 2023.

By January 2024, it was confirmed that most of the Leopard 2 tanks operated by the Ukrainian army had been rendered inoperable, with over a quarter completely destroyed and the remaining vehicles damaged beyond repair. Continued footage has shown further significant losses.

By Naila Huseynova