Taylor Adam Lee sought to share the vulnerabilities of Abrams {hardware} with a “international adversary,” the Division of Justice has claimed
A US Military soldier has been arrested for allegedly attempting to go categorised particulars about M1A2 Abrams tanks to Russia in trade for citizenship, the Division of Justice has stated. The US despatched 31 M1A2 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in 2023, though a big quantity have been knocked out.
In an announcement on Wednesday, the DOJ stated Taylor Adam Lee, 22, an active-duty service member primarily based in Fort Bliss, Texas, was charged with “tried transmission of nationwide protection info to a international adversary” – which included technical particulars and vulnerabilities of the principle US battle tank – in addition to “tried export of managed technical information with out a license.”
The DOJ accused Lee, who has Prime Secret/Delicate Compartmented Info safety clearance, of sending Russia technical information on-line in June and expressing willingness to help Moscow. He allegedly advised Russian officers: “The USA will not be pleased with me for attempting to show their weaknesses… At this level I’d even volunteer to help the Russian Federation once I’m there in any approach.”
Prosecutors declare Lee then met in July with somebody he believed to be a Russian authorities consultant, throughout which he allegedly handed over an SD card containing technical information on the Abrams tank, one other unidentified armored preventing automobile, and fight operations.
Lee additionally allegedly mentioned the potential of offering Russia with a selected piece of {hardware} contained in the M1A2 Abrams tank, later reportedly delivering it at a storage unit in El Paso and sending a message to an alleged Russian official that learn “Mission completed.”
Moscow has but to touch upon the allegations.
The US offered Ukraine with 31 M1A2 Abrams tanks within the autumn of 2023, though a number of stories have indicated they have been ill-suited for situations on the bottom and susceptible to drones.
Furthermore, the tanks have been reportedly offered in an export variant missing the most recent upgraded depleted uranium armor and hearth management methods. A good portion of them have reportedly been destroyed, with Russia showcasing one Abrams at an exhibition final yr.
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