GD - U.S. poised to send dozens of M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine

• As international reluctance to send heavy armor to the battlefront against the Russians begins to erode, the Biden administration is poised to approve sending M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, according to The Wall Street Journal .
• The announcement would break a diplomatic logjam with Germany, which said it would only send domestically made Leopard 2 tanks if the U.S. sent the Abrams first.
• While the decision could be announced as soon as Wednesday, it could still take months - or even a year - for the tanks to be delivered. Official have said the tanks would be bought under an upcoming Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, meaning the package wouldn't result in another drawdown of U.S. stock, but would rather come from a new contract or a refurbishment of Abrams tanks from another country like Poland.
• Earlier, U.S. officials had argued the Abrams wasn't suited to the war, citing extensive and complex maintenance and logistical challenges with the high-tech vehicles. Washington also believed it would be more productive to send German Leopards, since many allies have them and Ukrainian troops would need less training than on the Abrams.
• Top national security advisers from Germany, France, Britain and the U.S. are expected to meet Wednesday morning in Washington to discuss Ukraine.
• The M1 Abrams entered service in 1980 and is the main battle tank of the U.S. Army. It's designed and produced by General Dynamics ( NYSE: GD ), which is scheduled to report earnings before the bell on Wednesday. See a preview of the Q4 results as a possible cut to defense spending looms .

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