From T-72 to ABRAMS: what the Armored Vehicles and Maneuverability Coalition supplies to the Defence Forces

In March 2024, Poland initiated the launch of the Armored Vehicles and Maneuver Coalition to support Ukraine.

Germany and Italy also took on leadership roles. The Coalition was joined by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Czechia, Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Sweden, France, Spain, and Finland.

The Coalition aims to bolster the Ukrainian military’s vehicle fleet, provide personnel training, and ensure proper maintenance and repair of allied-supplied weapons and vehicles. It also supports the development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and enhances their interoperability with NATO.

Within the Coalition, four syndicates have been established, each assigned specific tasks: 

• supply of armored vehicles and ammunition;
• maintenance and repair;
• training of vehicle crews and technical personnel;
• tactics, doctrines, and the study and implementation of best practices.

Coalition member states have provided Ukraine with hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles. While the early stage of the invasion was marked by the provision of equipment like T-72s and BMP-1s, as for now, Ukraine received Western tanks, including Leopard-1, Leopard-2, ABRAMS, Challenger, and AMX-10, as well as armored fighting vehicles such as YPR-765, M113, CVR (T), Pbv-302, LAV, M2A2 Bradley, Marder 1A3, M1126 Stryker, M1117 APC, and BOV-VP, and more. 

In total, eight Capability Coalitions have been established within the framework of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group: The Air Force Coalition, the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Coalition, the Maritime Capability Coalition, the Drone Coalition, the IT Coalition, the Artillery Coalition, the Armored Vehicles and Maneuverability Coalition, and the Demining Capability Coalition.

On January 9, 2025, the defense ministers of 14 leading nations, along with Ukraine, coordinated roadmaps for enhancing the capabilities of all the Coalitions. This occurred during a meeting of the Capability Coalition Leaders Group within the framework of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein format).