American Tanks Worth IDR 162 Billion Become Prey to Russian Drones Worth IDR 8 Million

Collect New York TimesSunday (21/4/2024), at least five of the 31 Abrams tanks—each worth USD 10,000,000 (more than Rp. 162 billion)—that the US sent to Ukraine were destroyed by Russian drones that cost only USD 500 (Rp. 8 million) each units.

The other three Abrams tanks, the report continued, were moderately damaged.

“Even one of America’s most powerful symbols of military power is not immune to such attacks,” he wrote New York Times.

In most cases, these expensive tanks have been destroyed by first-person-view (FPV) kamikaze drones, also known as loitering munitions. Such drones are capable of active maneuvering before reaching their targets.

In at least one incident, an Abrams tank was defeated in a duel against a Russian T-72B3 main battle tank. The Russian military has published more than a dozen clips, most taken from drones, showing the destruction of US-supplied equipment.

According to reports New York TimesAbrams tanks were easier to destroy by exploding drones than some officials and experts initially thought.

The report quoted an Austrian historian and military expert, Colonel Markus Reisner, who described such a situation as “extraordinary”. Furthermore, the American media report described the Russian UAV as a “highly accurate and low-cost tank killer”.

“The accuracy of the drone exceeds 90%,” wrote New York Timesadding that the drone is also capable of hitting heavy armored vehicles at their weakest points.