Media linked the postponement of U.S. tank deliveries to Taiwan to industry strain

The delayed delivery of 38 Abrams tanks by the United States of America(USA) to Taiwan speaks volumes about the overstretched U.S. industry in recent years. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on December 20.

"The pending arrival of 38 Abrams tanks in Taiwan underscores the strain on U.S. industrial capacity amid growing concerns about China," the newspaper wrote.

WSJ reports that the first batch of tanks was supposed to arrive back in 2022, but Washington was two years late because of the situation in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic. All of this has increased the strain on the defense industry.

The sale of 108 Abrams M1A2T tanks to Taiwan for $2.2 billion was approved by the U.S. State Department in 2019. The delivery schedule for the M1A2T tanks to Taiwan states that 38 vehicles will arrive in 2024, 42 vehicles in 2025 and the last batch of 28 combat vehicles in 2026.

Earlier this summer, it was reported that the first batch of 38 US Abrams (M1A2T) tanks will arrive in Taiwan in 2024. In total, the US has purchased 108 combat vehicles. It is reported that the army is already selecting officers and soldiers to be sent to the United States, where they will be trained to work with Abrams tanks: driving, firing live ammunition and general maintenance.