In a new revelation, US Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Mike Murray confessed that the United States faces a huge challenge in keeping its tank technology edge. Before the Senate Armed Services subcommittee, Murray testified that Israel and the UK, and especially Russia, were fast catching up. I think we have parity, I think there is parity out there,” he noted, hammering home the point that where once the Abrams tank was without any rival on the battlefield, other nations have caught up.
The M1 Abrams entered service in the 1980s and symbolized American military might. However, Murray noted that this platform is reaching the end of its upgrade potential. “We’re just about reaching the limits of what we can do with the Abrams,” he said, suggesting the US needs to come up with a new generation of tanks. Its proud reputation notwithstanding, the Abrams exposed vulnerabilities in recent conflicts, particularly in Iraq, where several units were lost or heavily damaged.
On the other end of the spectrum, Russia’s T-90 tank has flexed its muscles. Weighing 46.5 tons, this model is far lighter, and thus its top speed and operational range are higher. The T-90 has proven its worth in the Syrian conflict where the Syrian Army lost only one T-90 to an American TOW missile since 2014. This was due to the poor training of the crew and not because of some fault inherent in the tank itself.
Its partial dynamic protection, combined with the mounted Shtora-1 infrared ATGM jamming system, offsets the T-90’s prowess. Contrasted with the Abrams, despite all its up-gun modifications, it has faced numerous maintenance and operational issues throughout its service. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the US lost 80 Abrams out of 1,135 fielded, and nearly half of those required major repairs.
Things are going to get worse; Ukraine will now get 31 Abrams tanks from the US. Ukrainian crews are training in Germany as we speak and will operate these advanced machines. The Abrams is an expensive machine with demanding maintenance requirements and supply chains. Retired US Army Lieutenant General Mark Hertling commented, “When you compare the Abrams to other western tanks, well, it’s just a very difficult task — not for the crew but for those who support it.”
The Abrams’ turbine engine consumes a large amount of jet fuel, raising additional logistical challenges. In contrast, the German-made Leopard 2 has diesel fuel consumption and is reportedly easier to repair, much more in line with Ukraine’s needs. Anyway, the supply of Western tanks like the Abrams will be a serious development leap regarding Ukrainian potential for infantry support and breakthrough operations.
Of course, the debate over which main battle tank is the best remains, but some clearly stand out. These would include Israel’s Merkava V, with its cutting-edge Trophy APS and advanced active protection system; and South Korea’s K2 Black Panther features a suspension system all its own and advanced targeting. Russia’s T-14 Armata may have unmanned turrets and some production issues, while the T-90M Proryv packs major upgrades to protection and firepower.
The struggle for supremacy in tanks has only just begun. The quest to develop the best main battle tank remains continuous as nations around the world strive to modernize and innovate their armored fleets.