The Biden administration is set to bolster Ukraine’s military capabilities by supplying Abrams tanks equipped with depleted-uranium rounds, according to senior U.S. officials quoted by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
These highly potent rounds, a mainstay in the U.S. Army’s arsenal, have been recommended by the Pentagon due to their impressive penetration capabilities against Russian tank armor.
“The projectile hits like a freight train,” said Scott Boston, a defense analyst at the Rand Corporation and former Army artillery officer.
“It is very long and very dense. So it puts a great deal of kinetic energy on a specific point on an enemy armor array.”
The use of depleted-uranium rounds has sparked concerns due to their potential health and environmental risks, with some officials anxious about inviting criticism on these grounds.
Ukraine is currently in the midst of a counteroffensive operation against Russian forces.
Interestingly, there is a degree of disagreement within the Biden administration over the precise nature of the support to be provided to Ukraine.
This recent development regarding the tank rounds is an extension of an agreement from January, when the U.S. decided to supply Ukraine with 31 refurbished Abrams tanks, WSJ notes.
The initial plan was to buy new M1A2 Abrams tanks but to expedite the delivery process, the U.S. chose to refurbish existing M1A1 tanks.
Currently, Ukrainian personnel are receiving training in Germany on the operation and maintenance of the Abrams tanks, scheduled for delivery by autumn.
Meanwhile, as the U.S. deliberated over ammunition options, Britain has already supplied Ukraine with Challenger tanks and depleted-uranium shells.
Despite concerns over the “chemical toxicity” of depleted uranium, John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, defended its use.
He argued, “This kind of ammunition is fairly commonplace,” and maintained that it isn’t a radioactive threat.
This comes in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s accusations against Britain of supplying “weapons with a nuclear component.”
The Biden administration is also considering supplying other weapons to Ukraine, including controversial cluster munitions, despite resistance from the NSC and State Department.
Some argue these munitions could be “very effective” against Russian troops, as stated by Gen. Christopher Cavoli, NATO’s top commander.
However, others have raised concerns over the risk of unexploded ordnance causing civilian casualties long after the conflict has ended.
The Ukrainians continue to press for U.S.-made long-range ATACMS missiles, but according to U.S. officials, this isn’t expected to happen soon.
However, it appears likely that the depleted-uranium rounds will indeed be sent to Ukraine.
