Po ilgų prašymų Sankausko pateikti kokius nors įrodymus apie tankų naudą Ukrainos-Rusijos kare, jis galiausiai išgooglino kažkokį straipsnį, kuriame viskas, kas buvo rašoma apie tankų svarbą Ukrainoje tai tik tiek, kad jų ten tūkstančiais buvo sunaikinta. Galys tankų naudą irgi nuolat įrodinėja pateikdamas sunaikintų tankų statistiką su mintim, kad 'jei naikinami - vadinas naudojami, o jei naudojami - vadinas labai svarbūs'. Bet gali būti, kad ir šitas argumentas bus prarastas, bent jau Associated Press rašo, kad Ukraina atitraukia tankus nuo fronto, nes jų panaudojimas tapo sunkiai įmanomas fronte atsiradus dronams. Tiesa - viltis dar neprarasta, ukrainiečiai kartu su amerikiečiais bandys sugalvoti ir surasti būdą kaip tuos tankus būtų įmanoma panaudoti, kad nebūtų taip, kad jie tik stovi, rūdija ir dar dėl jų priežiūros kaštų resursus ėda.
Truputi matematikos: straipsnyje vieno tanko kaina yra įvardijama kaip 10 mln. USD, nors iš esmės tai naujo tanko kaina, o amerikiečiai ukrainiečiams juos senus pristatė. Bet net jei imtumėm tai kaip naujo tanko kainą ir jei amerikiečiai daugiau tankų nesiųs, tai bendroje 100 mlrd. USD paramoje tankai sudarys tik varganus 0.3%. Taip, iš kitų šalių ukrainiečiai tankų daugiau gavo, bet iš esmės bendroje sumoje jie vargu ar peržengtų 3% visų kaštų. O Lietuva tam numačiusi 2 mlrd. EUR. Turint omeny, kad kariuomenės įprastai naujų ginklų įsigijimui skiria 30% savo biudžeto, tai išeina taip, kad tankai suvalgys trijų metų Lietuvos resursus, skirtus naujų ginklų įsigijimui. Ir bent jau man tada kyla natūralus klausimas - kaip čia taip gaunasi, kad Lietuva tankams įsigyti numato skirti neįtikėtinai didelę dalį savo karinio biudžeto, o iš Ukrainos-Rusijos karo pastoviai plaukia žinios, kad tų tankų ten apskritai nelabai panaudoti išeina.
Ukraine pulls US-provided Abrams tanks from the front lines over Russian drone threats
Ukraine has sidelined U.S.-provided Abrams M1A1 battle tanks for now in its fight against Russia, in part because Russian drone warfare has made it too difficult for them to operate without detection or coming under attack, two U.S. military officials told The Associated Press.
The U.S. agreed to send 31 Abrams to Ukraine in January 2023 after an aggressive monthslong campaign by Kyiv arguing that the tanks, which cost about $10 million apiece, were vital to its ability to breach Russian lines.
But the battlefield has changed substantially since then, notably by the ubiquitous use of Russian surveillance drones and hunter-killer drones. Those weapons have made it more difficult for Ukraine to protect the tanks when they are quickly detected and hunted by Russian drones or rounds.
Five of the 31 tanks have already been lost to Russian attacks.
The proliferation of drones on the Ukrainian battlefield means “there isn’t open ground that you can just drive across without fear of detection,” a senior defense official told reporters Thursday.
For now, the tanks have been moved from the front lines, and the U.S. will work with the Ukrainians to reset tactics, said Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Adm. Christopher Grady and a third defense official who confirmed the move on the condition of anonymity.
Ukraine has sidelined U.S.-provided Abrams M1A1 battle tanks for now in its fight against Russia, in part because Russian drone warfare has made it too difficult for them to operate without detection or coming under attack, two U.S. military officials told The Associated Press.
The U.S. agreed to send 31 Abrams to Ukraine in January 2023 after an aggressive monthslong campaign by Kyiv arguing that the tanks, which cost about $10 million apiece, were vital to its ability to breach Russian lines.
But the battlefield has changed substantially since then, notably by the ubiquitous use of Russian surveillance drones and hunter-killer drones. Those weapons have made it more difficult for Ukraine to protect the tanks when they are quickly detected and hunted by Russian drones or rounds.
Five of the 31 tanks have already been lost to Russian attacks.
The proliferation of drones on the Ukrainian battlefield means “there isn’t open ground that you can just drive across without fear of detection,” a senior defense official told reporters Thursday.
For now, the tanks have been moved from the front lines, and the U.S. will work with the Ukrainians to reset tactics, said Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Adm. Christopher Grady and a third defense official who confirmed the move on the condition of anonymity.
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