Newest American Aid Package Includes 200 M113s For Ukraine

The United States Department of Defense announced on June 7th that it will send another military aid package to Ukraine valued at $225 million. This package includes 200 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers, which are in addition to the 100 included in the last aid package, bringing the total to more than 600. In a conflict where modern, advanced armored vehicles such as Bradleys, Abrams, and Leopards have received significant acclaim, it is surprising that Ukraine would need M113s, an older vehicle from the Cold War era. However, given the current battle trends in Ukraine, the M113 aligns well with Ukraine’s military needs.

The M113 is a tracked armored personnel carrier developed by the United States in the late 1950s. Widely used during the Vietnam War, it is renowned for its versatility, durability, and mobility. The vehicle prioritized mobility over survivability by using lighter aluminum armor, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 42 mph across various terrains and even float. Due to a need for thicker armor, the M113 was eventually phased out of direct-combat roles in favor of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. However, the United States continued to use the M113 for combat-support roles. In the 1990s, the American fleet of M113s underwent upgrades, receiving enhanced powertrains and improved driver controls. Despite the upgrades, the United States stopped purchasing M113s and began phasing them out in 2007.

Ukraine’s request for additional M113s reflects changes in the war’s dynamics. While the initial phases of the war involved mechanized battles with armored vehicles engaging other armored vehicles, Ukraine is now conducting a large number of dismounted operations, particularly as they defend towns in the Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk Oblasts. Ukrainian forces have established networks of trenches, obstacle belts, and fortified positions to repel Russian assaults on key towns in these regions. The M113 supports these dismounted operations by shuttling soldiers to and from the front lines and providing resupply. Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to rely heavily on artillery to destroy Ukrainian defensive positions and equipment. The M113’s high mobility makes it a difficult target for indirect fire, and its thin armor is still adequate to protect the vehicle occupants from artillery shrapnel.

More importantly, the M113 is a versatile vehicle that can be easily modified for the changing battlefield as both sides adopt new technologies and tactics to break through their adversaries’ lines. The M113 can be configured for a number of different purposes in addition to being a troop transport, such as command posts, ambulances, and logistical resupply. It can also be augmented with heavier weapon systems, including TOW missiles and high-caliber machine guns. An image circulated on social media even showed a Ukrainian M113 with a ZU-23-2 23-mm anti-aircraft automatic cannon mounted on top. Furthermore, the design of the M113 allows for the rapid integration of new technology, including the potential to carry electronic warfare and counter-drone equipment.

The M113 is also an appropriate vehicle given the current composition of Russian equipment. Russia is fielding a number of older vehicles and weapon platforms and using them in conjunction with advanced technologies, especially electronic warfare systems. The M113 was designed during the Cold War specifically to counter the Soviet equipment that the Russians are now fielding. Additionally, the M113 is old enough that much of its technology is analog. As the Russian military deploys newer and more advanced electronic warfare systems, the analog systems of the M113 remain unaffected.

The M113 also has several other strategic benefits. First, the M113 is relatively inexpensive compared to more modern armored vehicles, enabling the United States to send multiple M113s instead of a single Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Second, its operational costs are lower because it is lighter, allowing it to use half the fuel of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Third, Ukraine has received a large number of M113s from previous American aid packages and from other countries, making them familiar with the vehicle and reducing the time required to train personnel for operation and maintenance. Further, Ukraine has access to a large inventory of spare parts by cannibalizing M113s damaged over the past two years of conflict.

The inclusion of M113s in the recent aid packages to Ukraine highlights the complex nature of technology in this conflict. While both sides are rushing to develop more advanced drone and electronic warfare technology, there are also cases where older systems, such as the M113, is a useful piece of equipment for the battlefield. The 200 M113s in the most recent aid package will make a direct and immediate impact on the battlefield.