Russia-Ukraine War: US, Allies Starts Training Ukrainian Forces on Advanced Abrams Tanks

The Ukrainian military has begun training using cutting-edge US Abrams tanks to attempt to repel Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territory. But Kyiv's troops will need more time to prepare for Kyiv's forthcoming counteroffensive.

The United States and its allies are also working on agreements to offer training on F-16 fighter planes. Although he stressed that it would take time to accomplish this objective, US Joint Chiefs of Staff head Gen. Mark Milley recognized the necessity for a modernized air force in Ukraine, according to AP News.

The US and its allies, who have agreed to supply F-16s, are arranging in great detail the F-16 training, including class numbers, flying techniques, and training sites. The logistics for training with the Abrams tank are also moving along.

A 12-week training program in Germany for 200 Ukrainian troops has begun. Using the modern armored system, it will concentrate on movement, shooting, and combined weapons operations. Two hundred more soldiers are undergoing instruction in tank repair and refueling.

The US has been aiding Ukrainian soldiers through training efforts and donating weaponry essential for protecting their country. As part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which seeks to improve Ukraine's artillery and air defense capabilities, the US unveiled a $1.2 billion package last month, according to the US Department of Defense.

Additional artillery rounds, air defense systems, and gear for integrating Western air-defense units are also included in this package.

Abrams To Provide Advantage To Ukraine

The planned employment of US Abrams tanks is expected to provide Ukraine with a considerable equipment advantage against Russia, which continues to rely on old-fashioned Soviet-era tanks.

Before this point, the start of Ukrainian training on Abrams tanks remained questionable. The precise timetable for training remained unclear in the wake of US President Joe Biden's pledge to provide Ukraine with 31 M1 Abrams tanks and Germany's consent to the shipment of Leopard 2 tanks, per The Kyiv Independent. The promised Abrams tanks had first been pledged to Ukraine but would not arrive until 2024, according to the US.

However, the US eventually changed its mind and said that training for the Abrams tank would start for Ukrainian forces in the following weeks. Before the Abram tanks are sent to the front lines, the training program is anticipated to last for about 10 weeks.