Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko at Sentinel Boats in Hobart in July. Photo: LinkedIn.
The Federal Government has undertaken to provide additional military aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia in the form of 14 rigid hull boats.
The government says the 14 boats, valued at $14 million, will bolster Ukraine’s maritime and coastal defence, which has been an important operational domain for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It did not specify what type of boats, whether they’re new or former ADF assets, nor who the manufacturer is.
The latest announcement comes just weeks after the government promised to donate 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as they are retired from Australian Army service.
Australia operates 59 M1A1 main battle tanks, but these are being replaced by the latest M1A2SEP(v)3 Abrams under Project LAND 907 to be operated by the 3rd Armoured Brigade in Townsville.
The new M1A2s will be accompanied by additional support vehicles including 29 M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles, 17 M1074 Joint Assault Bridges, and six additional M88A2 recovery vehicles – all of which share a lower chassis and running gear with the Abrams.
The new tanks offer increased protection and more advanced sensors and communications over the older vehicles. The first of 75 M1A2s arrived in Australia earlier this year and was on display at September’s Land Forces 2024 exposition in Melbourne.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia remained firmly committed to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
“This is in Australia’s interests, and is the right thing to do,” he said.
“Ukraine has demonstrated its ability to thwart Russia’s continued attacks from the Black Sea. We are proud to contribute to these vital maritime defences with this new package.
“It’s a smaller announcement worth about $14 million, but it builds on a number of announcements that we made during the course of this year,” he added.
“What this really reflects is we are looking at every opportunity that we can find in terms of the kit that we have, what we don’t need, what Ukraine could use to make sure that we are getting it over there to help support Ukraine in their fight against the illegal invasion of Russia into their country. And this is just the next step down that path.
Photo: ADF.
In response to the tank announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on ‘X’, “I’m especially grateful for Australia’s brave decision to provide 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks for our defense against Russian aggression.”
Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy said the tanks would deliver more firepower and mobility to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and complement the support provided by other partners for Ukraine.
The Australian Abrams tanks will add to the 31 similar tanks donated by the US in 2023, some of which have already seen and been lost in combat.
The tanks have been valued by the government at $245 million, although in reality would have much less value if sold on to another operator. It says the donation of the tanks and the boats takes the value of Australia’s military assistance to Ukraine to more than $1.3 billion, and overall support to more than $1.5 billion.
Other equipment Australia has donated includes Thales Bushmaster protected vehicles, retired M113AS4 armoured personnel carriers, M777 towed howitzers, surface-to-air missile systems, 3D printers, counter-drone systems, and small drones. In July, Australia announced that Tasmania’s Sentinel Boats would also deliver new Sentinel 830R RHIBs to Ukraine.
