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Some Pentagon officers had been shocked that German officers had been publicly admitting the hyperlink between the Abrams tanks and the Leopards, one official mentioned, talking on situation of anonymity to debate inside deliberations. He added that officers had thought these communications would solely be inside.
By Monday, officers mentioned each Mr. Austin and Common Milley had been onboard with sending American tanks to Germany. To make the purpose — or to be seen making the purpose — Mr. Austin known as Mr. Biden on Monday to advocate sending the Abrams tanks.
Whereas some lawmakers had urged america wanted to ship as few as a single Abrams tank to unlock the German Leopards, the Pentagon leaders mentioned that made no sense. If america was going to ship its most superior tank system, it ought to ship a battalion with “fight energy,” one official mentioned.
A Ukrainian battalion has 31 tanks, in order that was the quantity america agreed to ship, Pentagon officers mentioned.
A number of particulars nonetheless should be labored out. The Military has not but determined which particular kind of Abrams tanks it’ll ship, Douglas R. Bush, an Military assistant secretary, advised reporters on Wednesday.
The Military has tanks in its stock that may should be revamped — however they won’t should be constructed from scratch by Common Dynamics. The Military has greater than 1,000 Abrams tanks both able to combat or in varied states of partial development that could possibly be retrofitted to be used in Ukraine.
The Military should resolve between variants of the Abrams tanks which have totally different electronics and a unique gun turret, Mr. Bush mentioned, a choice to be made by senior Pentagon officers within the coming weeks.
Procuring the tanks will take months, officers mentioned, giving the U.S. army time to coach Ukrainian troopers the way to function and preserve them. It was unclear whether or not coaching would happen in Germany, america or each, Pentagon officers mentioned on Wednesday.
Eric Lipton contributed reporting.
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