Soon to be deployed to the front lines of Ukraine are the M1 Abrams, which President Joe Biden has dubbed the “most capable tanks in the world.”

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Vice President Joe Biden announced on January 25 that the United States would provide Ukraine with 31 M1 Abrams tanks, sufficient to outfit a Ukrainian tank battalion, as stated by the president.

Vice President Biden added that Kiev’s forces must “immediately counter Russia’s evolving tactics and strategy on the battlefield.”

The M1 Abrams’ deployment to the front lines of Ukraine has not yet been confirmed, but a senior White House official estimates that delivery will take “months rather than weeks.”

The White House had pledged in November to provide financial support for the conversion of 45 T-72B tanks from the Soviet era into operational readiness for Ukraine, facilitated by the Czech Republic.

As stated by the Tank Museum in the United Kingdom, the T-72 main battle tank has been operational in every significant conflict of the past two decades, making it the most extensively utilized engine. In Ukraine, they are utilized extensively by Russian forces in conjunction with the upgraded T-90 tank.

“The M1A2 is inherently superior to the different T-72 models utilized by Russia in Ukraine,” defense and military expert Michael Peck told Newsweek. “Not just in armament and armor protection, but also in sensors needed to detect the enemy and fire that crucial first shot,” he pointed out.

“There is no comparison between an M1 and a T-72” in any of the main metrics, according to King’s College London War Studies professor Michael Clarke, who told Newsweek.

Clarke continued, “It is superior to the T-72 variants in weight, speed, armored protection, sighting technology, and accuracy, to name a few characteristics.”

The M1 Abrams is available in multiple variants, each of which is capable of carrying 105 mm or 120 mm armaments, in addition to 7.62 mm and.50-caliber M2 machine guns. Similar to the American Abrams, the T-72s are equipped with a 2A46 125 mm smoothbore and a 7.62 mm machine gun.

T-72s weigh approximately 45 tons, whereas Abrams can weigh between 67.6 and 73.6 tons, depending on the model. Maximum velocity for the M1 Abrams tanks is 42 to 45 mph, or 25 to 30 mph when traversing cross-country terrain. The Soviet-era tank has a maximum pace of 37 mph on the road and 27 mph when traversing country.

Formerly, experts informed Newsweek that the use of aviation fuel to refuel M1 Abrams in Ukraine’s combat zones could cause complications. The T-72 variants operate on diesel that is more readily available. Peck stated that in addition to training and extensive maintenance, Ukraine will be required to construct specialized fuel vehicles.

Clarke stated that the M1A2 is a tank of the fourth generation, in contrast to the T-72, which is “at best a tank of the third generation.” He further stated that the most significant disadvantage is the Abrams’ fuel economy, which can be as low as 400 yards per gallon when traversing difficult terrain in combat.

It constitutes a “very thirsty tank and therefore needs more stuff closely following it than a T-72,” according to Clarke.

Russian political scientist and security expert Dr. Mark Galeotti, who emphasized the significance of electronics, told Newsweek that the Abrams has superior fire control, which increases its accuracy over a greater range.

However, certain comparisons are challenging due to the sheer number of factors that must be taken into account, Peck explained. He further stated that the T-72 and Abrams are “distinctive vehicles designed for distinct armies.”

“At its inception, the T-72 was a Soviet tank intended for incompetent conscripts.” Peck stated, “Because the Abrams is a more complex vehicle, it requires better-trained crews and more frequent maintenance.”

Galeotti stated that the T-72 is a “classic product of tank philosophy from the Soviet era,” contending that one “sacrifices a degree of survivability for a tank that is fast and hard-hitting” when ordering one. Nevertheless, it is considerably more affordable in price than the M1 Abrams. Furthermore, direct comparisons of the principal battle tanks are complicated by this.

“However, I would without a doubt choose an M1 over a T-72,” Galeotti stated. “But, on the other hand, if the T-72 can hit first, and is lucky enough to hit accurately, then it’s certainly in with a chance.”