Pentagon Massively Revs Up Armor to Ukraine, Sends 76 Tanks, 189 Strykers & 186 Bradleys

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

Ukraine’s intense and ambitious counteroffensive can likely have some success penetrating the perimeter or outer boundary of mechanized forces through a combination of armored attack, rockets, artillery and drone operations …. Yet the ability to actually take and “hold” territory previously held by Russian forces will likely require a much larger, yet dispersed and networked mechanized force.

The Pentagon is massively revving up delivery of heavy armor to Ukraine in a large-scale, multi-billion dollar support package including Tanks, Bradleys, Strykers and Armored Personnel Carriers in what could prove to be a substantial boost to the ongoing counteroffensive.

Ukrainian forces and their NATO and Pentagon allies are likely quite aware of this, which is part of why DoD has set up specific weapons contracting and manufacturing vehicles to help fast-track needed weapons to Ukraine.

While Ukraine’s counter offensives are likely being met with success in many instance, the ability to truly push back and “remove” occcupying Russian forces will likely need much more heavy armor than its current force of existing and rapidly arriving Abrams, Leopard, Challenger II and T-72 tanks and Bradleys.

Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder declined to offer a specific delivery timeline but did say Abrams would arrive by the end of the year, according to a Pentagon transcript. 

These factors are likely a large reason why the just announced massive security package assistance to Ukraine contains hundreds of armored vehicles. Overall, the Pentagon has provided $43.7 billion.

Heavy Armor to “Hold” Territory