Ukraine's 425th Separate Assault Regiment "Skala" displayed the US-made M1A1 Abrams tanks they are using. Forty-nine decommissioned M1A1 Abrams tanks were delivered to Ukraine from Australia. Previously, 31 M1A1 SA Abrams tanks were also delivered from the US, and they were used by the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade "Magura." As The New York Times reported in March 2025, Ukraine had 11 tanks left from the American shipment; other sources say five tanks remain. The M1A1 Abrams tanks from the American shipment have now been withdrawn from the front lines. Tanks from the Australian shipment are already in use; their use was recently demonstrated in the Donbas. In the Ukrainian version, the M1A1 Abrams tanks have been fitted with additional blocks of the Soviet-era Kontakt-1 dynamic armor. A folding mesh grill has also been installed on the roof of the M1A1 Abrams to protect against drones.
Military Technology from Ukraine
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The Ukrainian army demonstrated a demonstration of a French wheeled 155mm self-propelled howitzer, the Caesar, mounted on a Renault Sherpa truck chassis. The self-propelled gun is equipped with a TR F1 cannon and a SIGMA 30 fire control system. The first CAESAR prototype was unveiled in 1994, and the French military received the first howitzers in 2002. The self-propelled howitzer has proven itself in Ukraine; this particular example is equipped with anti-drone grids. The CAESAR has a firing range of up to 42 km using conventional ammunition. Among the main advantages of the CAESAR are its high mobility, long firing range, and low operating costs and price.
Ukrainian troops received modernized ZSU-23-4M-A1 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns from volunteers. The Shilka air defense system was produced in the USSR from 1964 to 1982; it is currently used in limited numbers by the Russian army to counter certain types of UAVs. The ZSU-23-4M Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft guns were upgraded to the ZSU-23-4M-A1 standard. The repair and upgrade cost $8 million. The ZSU-23-4M-A1 modification completed its first trials in 2019 and was approved for trial operation. The ZSU-23-4M-A1 features new Rokach-AS radars, a digital fire control system, a navigation system, and improved electrical and auxiliary equipment. The new radar is capable of detecting and tracking drones at a range of up to 9 km. The upgrade reduced target acquisition time from 18 to 0.2 seconds. The number of tracked targets increased from 1 to 20. It's worth noting that the upgraded Shilka air defense system can effectively counter large drones.
Footage has been published of the Ukrainian army using the Soviet-made Kub air defense system. Working examples of this air defense system are now a rarity. Ukraine previously received 2K12M2 Kub-M2 air defense systems from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Kub air defense system was accepted into service by the USSR in 1967. Since the 1970s, the system has been upgraded several times to improve its jamming resistance and expand its engagement range. The stages of the Kub air defense system's modernization are shown on the screen. The final modification of the 2K12 began to enter service with the Soviet army in 1979. In 1982, production of the Kub air defense system ceased and it was replaced by the Buk air defense system.
The first combat use of the Kub air defense system, under the export designation "Kvadrat," occurred in October 1973. During the first three days of the war with Israel, Syrian air defenses using the Kvadrat SAM system shot down 49 F-4 Phantom aircraft and numerous A-4 Skyhawks. Despite its age, the Kub SAM system is still in service. In 2019, the Houthis used the Kvadrat SAM system to shoot down an MQ-9 Reaper UAV.
The Kub SAM system uses three 3M9 guided missiles with semi-active guidance. The 3M9 missiles weigh 630 kg, have a warhead of 57 kg, and fly at a speed of 600 m/s. The Kub SAM system is mounted on a GM-568 chassis and is powered by a V-6M engine producing 280 hp. It has a range of 300 km. The SAM system is ready for combat in 5 minutes. The Kub-M3 air defense system is capable of detecting air targets at a distance of up to 65 km, hitting them at a range of 25 km and at an altitude of up to 12,000 meters.
The first combat use of the Kub air defense system, under the export designation "Kvadrat," occurred in October 1973. During the first three days of the war with Israel, Syrian air defenses using the Kvadrat SAM system shot down 49 F-4 Phantom aircraft and numerous A-4 Skyhawks. Despite its age, the Kub SAM system is still in service. In 2019, the Houthis used the Kvadrat SAM system to shoot down an MQ-9 Reaper UAV.
The Kub SAM system uses three 3M9 guided missiles with semi-active guidance. The 3M9 missiles weigh 630 kg, have a warhead of 57 kg, and fly at a speed of 600 m/s. The Kub SAM system is mounted on a GM-568 chassis and is powered by a V-6M engine producing 280 hp. It has a range of 300 km. The SAM system is ready for combat in 5 minutes. The Kub-M3 air defense system is capable of detecting air targets at a distance of up to 65 km, hitting them at a range of 25 km and at an altitude of up to 12,000 meters.
The Ukrainian army's line of defense in the Dnipropetrovsk region. A video posted by residents of the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine shows the Ukrainian army's defensive lines. The video shows three deep ditches with three embankments, between which are anti-tank obstacles and barbed wire for protection against infantry.
Ukrainian military personnel unveiled a 2S22 "Bogdana" self-propelled howitzer on a Tatra chassis, equipped with a homemade "Mangal" anti-drone system. Currently, this is the most effective anti-drone system, and the Russian army also uses it.
Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, reported problems in Ukraine's military-industrial complex. According to him, Ukraine is almost entirely dependent on Western supplies and technologies for drone production. All components for drones produced in Ukraine, including software, advanced defense technologies, and even the 3D printers used to produce them, are all foreign-made. Budanov also reported that Ukraine has not built a single new tank during the war. Regarding Ukraine's missile program, Budanov acknowledged "serious nuances." He claimed that Ukraine's "allies" are deliberately not selling key components and assemblies to Kyiv. "And we lost the ability to produce our own missiles, exactly 20 years ago. We used to be able to do it, and then we lost it," Budanov said. It's worth noting that problems in Ukraine's military-industrial complex were discussed back in 2022, when it was reported that without Western weapons and financial assistance, the Ukrainian Armed Forces would be able to fight for no more than six months.
The first footage has emerged of one of the Ukrainian army's underground bases. The exact location has not been disclosed, but the base is used by airborne units. The underground base is quite large, with corridors at least 400 meters long. It can accommodate up to six vehicles, including trucks. The base has a kitchen, storage areas, and other utility rooms. A permanent kennel for the unit's dog has also been installed on the base grounds. Warning signs have been posted on the pillars supporting the vaults, warning that using mobile phones may attract the attention of bombers.
The Ukrainian FP-1 UAV has begun to be used as a carrier for FPV drones. Judging by the video, the FP-1 UAV can carry two FPV drones. The FPV drones lack a warhead, possibly for reconnaissance. The UAV is also used as a communications relay, equipped with a Starlink terminal. Technical specifications are not yet available. It's worth noting that UAVs carrying FPV drones are also used by the Russian military.
Greek authorities discovered a Ukrainian military naval drone, the Magura V3, off the coast of the island of Lefkada in the Ionian Sea. Local fishermen spotted the drone, its engine still running. The fishermen towed the drone to port and handed it over to the Greek Coast Guard. A preliminary examination revealed that the drone was equipped with detonators but did not contain any explosives. It's worth noting that the drone could not have come from the Black Sea, as it would have been detained by Turkish authorities. It can be assumed that Ukrainian naval drones are launched in the Mediterranean from unknown ships.
Footage of a Ukrainian Bergepanzer 2 ARV equipped with the homemade "Hedgehog" armor, also known as "Dikobraz." This armor is currently the most effective defense against FPV drones. The Bergepanzer 2 ARV entered service with Germany in 1966 and is based on the Leopard 1 main battle tank. Bergepanzer 2 ARVs have also appeared in the Russian army.
Ukraine has completed the development of its first guided aerial bomb with a 250-kg warhead, announced Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. He stated that the weapon is capable of striking targets "tens of kilometers" away. The weapon's development took 17 months, and it is not a copy of Western or Soviet designs. Experts believe that this is not the KAB bomb, but rather a UMPK module for bombs, as the video does not show an optical head in the bomb's nose. The munition is likely based on the Soviet FAB-250 bomb or the American Mk82 from the 1950s. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has already purchased an experimental batch. The bomb was dropped from a Su-24 bomber, which is not well-suited for this type of use; in this type of use, the bomb would fly only 40-50 kilometers. The altitude and speed of release are crucial for bombs with UMPK. As the bomb's release altitude increases, the likelihood of shooting down the aircraft increases. Therefore, a modern aircraft is required for the effective use of these bombs.
Trump says Ukraine lacks leverage. His own officials say otherwise.
Rubio called Ukraine’s military the strongest in Europe, while Driscoll told senators the U.S. is playing catch-up with Kyiv’s Delta command network.
www.defensenews.com
The Ukrainian army has begun constructing a line of defensive fortifications near Odesa. Kilometers of anti-tank ditches and bunkers are already being completed around the city, and barbed wire, "dragon's teeth," and minefields are being installed. Ukrainian defensive fortifications were previously also established in the Volyn region, which borders Belarus.