The M1 Abrams Is Becoming The Benchmark Main Battle Tank For Eastern Europe (From RealClearDefense)

The war in Ukraine has provided many lessons about the nature of modern high-intensity conflict. One of the most significant is the central role that armored fighting vehicles, particularly main battle tanks (MBTs), will have in both offense and defense. NATO countries are rushing to upgrade their tank fleets with a mix of new platforms and the modernization of existing systems. The U.S., which has committed to providing the M1 Abrams to both Ukraine and Poland, can help build a wall of armor across NATO’s eastern flank by making advanced versions of the M1 Abrams, the world’s best MBT, available to countries such as Romania, Lithuania, and the alliance’s newest member, Finland. Not only will Poland operate Europe’s largest fleet of M1 Abrams, but it will also serve as centerpiece for a European-wide support system for this platform. Warsaw has announced its intentions to set up a depot to service its own tanks as well as those of other European nations. This will allow the Polish industrial base to develop the necessary skills to support NATO’s M1s as well as those operated by U.S. forces. I have written more about this here.