![These would be part of a package including further armoured vehicles and 600 Brimstone missiles. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QNJ7BYVUFJGTJE6RT4XXRUFFVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=fb34dfacf6c48181d3b2651cc851e4cda4ced2b0c9efba3b56c520d756dadf5d&width=400&height=225)
![Ukraine has received about a dozen American-built Himars multiple rocket launchers and has used them to strike Russian ammunition depots. The Olympian / AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BM6AQWBZA3MMVU6IJ23KGDS3MQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1af9ffc836b16ed257231de40030fe972385faa0bc029fe42c2b45b64f1d2dff&width=400&height=225)
![Ukraine is asking western allies to provide it with German Leopard 2 tanks in its war with Russia. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CEVIWZZ2L4A3OROJTYGJR4K72U.jpg?smart=true&auth=5dcb9022121bc0cdd2bfa11a4cbd24d22a672341e653bf479cf95e0c2d85d241&width=400&height=225)
![Staring down the barrel of a Leopard 2 tank, pictured in Estonia. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CH5PNGF3XLET7TH5GXX3RMWXQU.jpg?smart=true&auth=361fc7473d2a58679a2d214b20444260599a1ec8360f5e2596a8cb845541eb3c&width=400&height=225)
![Kyiv is keen to acquire Leopard 2 tanks because they are among Europe's best and widely used, meaning spare parts and ammunition can be easily sourced. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O3SCQJC37QK5SMZ2BFZ4J77SAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=188a3882ff653bdd29b708e93b729869ad3c73dac69193b7a244a4a3007e5b17&width=400&height=225)
![The Polish government in January 2023 signed a deal to buy 116 Abrams tanks from the US. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ML6HPAH7AUGTL3ENXBLTGQG6Q4.jpg?smart=true&auth=49c7de3e4c44d9059aa3ba6791debf24c4054106e246b0d66b5dbe3d610bdb0e&width=400&height=225)
![Ukraine would also like to have Abrams battle tanks, although they require more crew training and specialised fuel. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4OVBXIEILKPEA5NNVGFVMGN3UA.jpg?smart=true&auth=c7e52a3ed1e8b1a5b2804acecebbcc511c1a51bb026055b6619beece0490c62a&width=400&height=225)
![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on his western allies to speed up military support for his country. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EY2OVPLVQYWJL7CUMI4GTUAFC4.jpg?smart=true&auth=58f28abd2d9b20e02359acf18838077744a9d4c23c337a01c6baa213b38b3731&width=400&height=225)
![British soldiers pictured with a Challenger 2 battle tank in Estonia. The UK is set to give Ukraine 14 Challengers. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WKKLVLHITPFIMSYWZHCVGC3CXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=79ddf1c8e6ea76b840f3ef305700fdc5bc82903e5651809d173d48ac2f47eda1&width=400&height=225)
![Britain is also offering Kyiv AS-90 self-propelled guns. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NTC7QKWL2XHWYM3SKWLFES2LHI.jpg?smart=true&auth=ea60f2189b89527441cfbe0588ae703a7a0d78bac6658e3feb175507debc1abe&width=400&height=225)
![These would be part of a package including further armoured vehicles and 600 Brimstone missiles. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QNJ7BYVUFJGTJE6RT4XXRUFFVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=fb34dfacf6c48181d3b2651cc851e4cda4ced2b0c9efba3b56c520d756dadf5d&width=400&height=225)
![Ukraine has received about a dozen American-built Himars multiple rocket launchers and has used them to strike Russian ammunition depots. The Olympian / AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BM6AQWBZA3MMVU6IJ23KGDS3MQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1af9ffc836b16ed257231de40030fe972385faa0bc029fe42c2b45b64f1d2dff&width=400&height=225)
![Ukraine is asking western allies to provide it with German Leopard 2 tanks in its war with Russia. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CEVIWZZ2L4A3OROJTYGJR4K72U.jpg?smart=true&auth=5dcb9022121bc0cdd2bfa11a4cbd24d22a672341e653bf479cf95e0c2d85d241&width=400&height=225)
![Staring down the barrel of a Leopard 2 tank, pictured in Estonia. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CH5PNGF3XLET7TH5GXX3RMWXQU.jpg?smart=true&auth=361fc7473d2a58679a2d214b20444260599a1ec8360f5e2596a8cb845541eb3c&width=400&height=225)
![Kyiv is keen to acquire Leopard 2 tanks because they are among Europe's best and widely used, meaning spare parts and ammunition can be easily sourced. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O3SCQJC37QK5SMZ2BFZ4J77SAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=188a3882ff653bdd29b708e93b729869ad3c73dac69193b7a244a4a3007e5b17&width=400&height=225)
![The Polish government in January 2023 signed a deal to buy 116 Abrams tanks from the US. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ML6HPAH7AUGTL3ENXBLTGQG6Q4.jpg?smart=true&auth=49c7de3e4c44d9059aa3ba6791debf24c4054106e246b0d66b5dbe3d610bdb0e&width=400&height=225)
![Ukraine would also like to have Abrams battle tanks, although they require more crew training and specialised fuel. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4OVBXIEILKPEA5NNVGFVMGN3UA.jpg?smart=true&auth=c7e52a3ed1e8b1a5b2804acecebbcc511c1a51bb026055b6619beece0490c62a&width=400&height=225)
![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on his western allies to speed up military support for his country. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EY2OVPLVQYWJL7CUMI4GTUAFC4.jpg?smart=true&auth=58f28abd2d9b20e02359acf18838077744a9d4c23c337a01c6baa213b38b3731&width=400&height=225)
![British soldiers pictured with a Challenger 2 battle tank in Estonia. The UK is set to give Ukraine 14 Challengers. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WKKLVLHITPFIMSYWZHCVGC3CXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=79ddf1c8e6ea76b840f3ef305700fdc5bc82903e5651809d173d48ac2f47eda1&width=400&height=225)
![Britain is also offering Kyiv AS-90 self-propelled guns. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NTC7QKWL2XHWYM3SKWLFES2LHI.jpg?smart=true&auth=ea60f2189b89527441cfbe0588ae703a7a0d78bac6658e3feb175507debc1abe&width=400&height=225)
![These would be part of a package including further armoured vehicles and 600 Brimstone missiles. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QNJ7BYVUFJGTJE6RT4XXRUFFVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=fb34dfacf6c48181d3b2651cc851e4cda4ced2b0c9efba3b56c520d756dadf5d&width=400&height=225)
Abrams and Challenger tanks 'made to beat Russia': Why muddy Ukraine is ideal warzone
How Nato designed its tanks to outgun and outmanoeuvre the numerically superior Russian forces and why this means they're perfect for Ukraine
![Robert Tollast](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F072875d5-f5fb-4517-9cce-38ace67d45b9.png?smart=true&auth=7af48bbbcf1a4e39e578898066778cb14924b2c9315abfd913973725dbda45d3&width=70&height=70)
Robert Tollast
January 26, 2023
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