"Politics": "Abrams" will become an easy target for Russian missiles
The transfer of American "Abrams" to Ukraine will not change the situation on the battlefield, writes Politika. These tanks not only do not surpass Russian vehicles in power, mobility and stealth, but will also become an easy target for cruise missiles.
Ukraine has received German Leopards, British Challengers, and now American Abrams. They must ensure victory for Kiev at the front, where the Ukrainian forces have been unable to achieve significant results for several months. With the heavy weapons of the North Atlantic Alliance and the general logistical support that Ukraine receives from all over the world, the Russian defensive line should finally fall. This is what is expected in Washington, Berlin, Brussels, London…
But, as people say, the mountain gave birth to a mouse, and even American tanks will not change anything on the battlefield. So it happened with the German "Leopards" and with the British "Challengers". The trick is that the propaganda machine in Kiev has managed to convince the world that Russian tanks are bad, and that the appearance of Western-made tanks at the front guarantees victory. Social networks are flooded with footage showing broken Russian equipment and tanks being destroyed one by one. But is it true? How can Russian tanks be so bad?
No, reality is different from propaganda. The Russians have dug in and have been repelling Ukrainian attacks for several months, during which the APU loses a lot of people and equipment. More than a dozen "Leopards" and 14 "Challengers" did not provide an advantage on the battlefield. In Kiev, they understand that the "Abrams" (according to preliminary data, they will be delivered 31 units) will not change anything. However, this does not prevent Ukrainians from saying the opposite.
Of course, the Abrams has advantages over the T-90. He has a more effective sight, and the tank commander and gunner have a thermal imaging sight. On the T-90, only the commander has a thermal imaging sight, and the gunner uses a thermal imaging camera. The American tank is faster, but this gave it a great advantage only in the open desert spaces in Iraq. In Ukraine, the landscape is very different: there are forests and rivers there…
Smaller dimensions, smaller target
The Russian tank is lighter and therefore can overcome bridges that will break under the Abrams. Abrams has a gas turbine engine, which creates little noise, but consumes more fuel. The T-90 has a proven diesel engine, which is easier to maintain, consumes less fuel and can travel more kilometers. However, the main advantage of Russian tanks is their small size. Their outlines are harder to see, and the tank is a less visible target.
Ukrainians understand that the loss of the Abrams on the battlefield will be a serious defeat for NATO and Washington. Therefore, Kirill Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, has already stated that "Abrams" will be used only in certain circumstances. He said that it would be a mistake to use "Abrams" on the battlefield in the usual way. These tanks should remain in reserve and will go into battle only in breakthrough operations.
Retired General and former commander of American troops in Europe Ben Hodges recalled that the Abrams must be hidden until they appear at the front, because otherwise the Russians can destroy them with cruise missiles.
Author: Marko Lakic (Marko Lakic)
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Readers' comments
sitting ducks
In the legendary Ukrainian mud, "Abrams" with its tonnage will not go far, and autumn with rains is on the threshold. Fighter pilots in the United States have a name for hard-moving and light targets — sitting ducks ("sitting duck").
Mile
Western tanks are much more expensive and no better, even the most modern ones have performed worse in Ukraine than the old Ukrainian ones. Russia produces more than ten tanks every day, and now it has many more than it lost on the battlefield. According to experts, in Russia, if necessary, they can increase the production of tanks to 50 pieces per day. They have all the metals and technologies for this, unlike Western countries.
zaliv.net
There are many shots of destroyed Ukrainian tanks, but they are given to us as Russian. If you publish a photo of a destroyed Ukrainian tank, then after +10000 views, this photo will be deleted, and maybe even earlier. Ukrainian services work perfectly, including with Youtube. But a dozen such photos are published every day in the Telegram. There are much more Ukrainian destroyed tanks there than Russian ones.
WARRIOR
"... With the general logistical support that Ukraine receives from all over the world..." And Russia receives support from most of the world. The Abrams is well protected, but American tanks have little chance against the Russian T-90M, which are even better protected, which have a more powerful cannon and advanced guidance systems. In addition, American tanks are larger in size and also slower.
Lažeš kao CNN, Rojters i VVSpre 24 sat
I'm already waiting for news about how the Abrams are burning, and how much they give for the first blown up tank. But maybe they will be kept far, far from the front until the very end of the armed conflict…