The United States secretly handed over a powerful tank for demining to Ukraine

The United States secretly handed over at least one unit of the M1150 Assault Breacher, an assault tank for demining, to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The corresponding photo appeared on the official website of the President of Ukraine. This combat vehicle was demonstrated to the President at an event dedicated to the Day of Missile and Artillery Forces and the Day of Engineer Troops.

According to Military, the transfer of M1150 demining vehicles by the United States has not been officially reported before.

M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle is a fairly new combat vehicle that was adopted in 2009, since then, according to rough estimates, about 239 units have been produced.

The weight of the combat vehicle is 72 tons, the length is 12 meters, the crew consists of 2 people. The M1150 is powered by an engine with a capacity of 1500 horsepower.

Earlier it was reported that the deputy head of the Presidential Office Igor Zhovkva said that Ukraine receives weapons and has successes at the front, in particular, due to the preservation of silence.
 

The M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle

The M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV) is a specialized military engineering vehicle used primarily by the United States Army and was previously used by the United States Marine Corps. Here is a brief overview of the provided data:

Overview

• Type: Military engineering vehicle
• Origin: United States
• In Service: 2009–present
• Users: United States Army, United States Marine Corps (until c. 2023), and Armed Forces of Ukraine

Service History

• Conflicts: War in Afghanistan
• Notable Operations: Operation Moshtarak in 2010

Production

• Number Built: 239

Specifications

• Length: 40 feet (12 meters)
• Crew: 2
• Main Armament: M58 MICLIC (Mine Clearing Line Charge)
• Secondary Armament: .50 BMG M2 machine gun

Design and Purpose

The ABV is a 72-ton vehicle based on the M1 Abrams tank chassis, equipped with a mine plow and line charges to clear mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). It uses a Linear Demolition Charge System (LDCS) to detonate explosives at a safe distance, allowing safe passage for troops and vehicles.

Development Background

In the 1990s, the U.S. Army sought cost-effective solutions for mine-clearing vehicles, leading to the cancellation of the complex Grizzly program in 2001. The Marine Corps continued with the development, resulting in the ABV built on a General Dynamics chassis, with Pearson Engineering of the UK supplying the mine-clearing equipment.

Operational History

The ABV saw its first combat use in December 2009 during Operation Cobra's Anger. It played a crucial role in Operation Moshtarak in February 2010, clearing "safety lanes" through minefields.

Deployment and Divestment

• Deployment to Afghanistan: 5 ABVs were in Afghanistan as of December 2009, with plans to field 52 by 2012.
• Deployment to Korea: 6 ABVs were brought to the Korean Peninsula in 2013 for the 2nd Infantry Division to clear the heavily mined Korean Demilitarized Zone.
• Divestment: As part of the USMC's Force Design 2030, the majority of the ABVs were transferred to the Army, with the USMC divesting its ABV inventory by 2023.
• Sale to Australia: In April 2021, the US agreed to sell 29 M1150s to the Australian Army.
• Use in Ukraine: An ABV was displayed in Ukraine during a ceremony in November 2023.