Three Abrams tanks firing.
US M1 Abrams tanks firing during the "Saber Strike" NATO military exercise in Ādaži, Latvia, in 2016.
  • Ukraine has received its first batch of US-provided M1A1 Abrams tanks. 
  • Although an older model, the Abrams has a proven ability to pulverize Soviet-built tanks.
  • Two former US Army officers told Insider the tank boasted strong weaponry but had its challenges.

The American-made M1 Abrams tank is at last in Ukraine, and while it has its limitations, it's more than just another piece of Western weaponry. It's heavy-duty, combat-proven armor that was built with a very specific mission in mind: killing Russian tanks.