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First Australian M1A1 Abrams Tanks Head to Ukraine After US Approval

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Photo of Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
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First Australian M1A1 Abrams Tanks Head to Ukraine After US Approval
Two M1A1 Abrams tanks taking up positions after completing an assault on a simulated enemy position during the 3rd Brigade Live Fire Exercise “Brolga Run” on October 21, 2016, in Townsville, Australia. (Source: Getty Images)

Australia’s retired fleet of M1A1 Abrams tanks is finally on its way to Ukraine after the United States granted the required re-export license, and are already deployed to the frontline in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on May 18.

During a meeting in Rome, Zelenskyy thanked Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the shipment, noting that “Abrams tanks are already helping our soldiers defend the country.”

Canberra has pledged 49 refurbished M1A1 AIM-SA tanks—vehicles the Australian Army operated from 2007 to 2024 across two armored regiments.

Loading began recently, but defense officials refuse to disclose the tanks’ route or arrival date “for security reasons.” Before departure, each vehicle underwent light refurbishment and the removal of sensitive Australian-only equipment.

Under US export law, Washington must approve any third-party transfer of American-made weaponry. That approval took longer than expected, further complicated earlier this year by a temporary halt in US security assistance to Kyiv, which disrupted operations at the Polish logistics hub designated to receive the tanks.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said that Canberra had worked “very closely with Ukraine and the United States to see this shipment occur,” adding that the first tranche “has been on its way for some time.”

When the full batch arrives, Ukraine will field roughly 85 Abrams tanks in total—31 supplied directly by the United States and 54 from Australian stocks.

Earlier, reports emerged that the United States was advancing its modernization of the M1 Abrams tanks, implementing key upgrades informed by lessons from their deployment in Ukraine. The upgrades focus on improving survivability, mobility, and efficiency in response to modern battlefield challenges.

Notably, several of these improvements mirror modifications already implemented by Ukrainian forces on their Abrams tanks, showcasing Ukraine’s adaptability and innovative approach to modern warfare.

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