More than six months after pledging a fleet of aging M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine, Australia has yet to deliver the vehicles due to pending international clearances.
Defense sources told ABC News that the tanks — already decommissioned by the Australian Defence Force — have yet to receive export approval from the US, their country of origin.
Under US arms export laws, any transfer of American-made defense systems to a third country requires formal authorization from Washington. This means that while Australia owns the tanks, it cannot legally send them to Ukraine without US consent.
The delay also coincides with a broader freeze in US military aid to Kyiv ordered by President Donald Trump in early 2025, following tensions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Despite these setbacks, a Pentagon spokesperson insists that Canberra “remains on target” to meet the delivery of the Abrams later this year.
“Defence continues to work with the Ukrainian government in line with agreed arrangements for the gifting, including on delivery and sustainment,” the spokesperson noted.
In October 2024, the Australian government announced it would send its soon-to-be-replaced Abrams tanks to Ukraine as part of its recent military aid worth 245 million Australian dollars ($157 million).
Australia has a retired fleet of 59 M1A1 Abrams tanks purchased in 2007, with 49 of them earmarked for Ukraine.
However, defense sources raised concerns about the practicality of the transfer, questioning whether the Ukrainians actually want the outdated vehicles.
“The tank roof is the weakest point of the Abrams and this is a drone war,” the source pointed out. “It would be embarrassing to have the tanks on board ships.”
Some US officials have also reportedly warned Canberra against donating the aging tanks, citing logistical challenges and the significant cost of maintaining the vehicles in war-torn Ukraine.
