Ukraine Reinforces U.S.-Supplied M1A1SA Abrams Tanks After Vulnerabilities Exposed in Combat .

Kyiv, Ukraine — Ukrainian armoured units have begun urgent field upgrades to U.S.-supplied M1A1SA Abrams main battle tanks after combat on the eastern front exposed critical weaknesses in their armour protection, according to an exclusive report from Army Recognition.

The U.S. delivered 31 M1A1SA Abrams to Ukraine between October 2023 and early 2024. However, battlefield experience against modern Russian weaponry — including top-attack anti-tank guided missiles, first-person-view (FPV) kamikaze drones, and loitering munitions — has revealed that the tanks’ standard armour package lacks adequate roof and rear protection. Unlike the U.S. Army’s latest M1A2 SEP v3 variants, the M1A1SA versions supplied to Ukraine do not feature depleted-uranium armour inserts or active protection systems, making them more vulnerable to advanced threats.

In response, Ukrainian crews have improvised a layered defensive approach. This includes the installation of Soviet-era Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armour (ERA) blocks along the turret and hull, as well as “cope cage” armour over the turret roof and engine deck to counter top-attack munitions. Additional mesh and side-skirt protection have also been fitted to shield vital areas from drones and RPG fire.

Military analysts note that these upgrades mirror measures taken by other armies — including Russia — in adapting armoured vehicles to the drone-dominated battlefield. While the retrofits cannot match the full capabilities of modern active defence systems, they represent a crucial, rapidly deployable enhancement to survivability.


Source: Exclusive Report, Army Recognition — 8 August 2025