Australian tanks arrive in Ukraine after nine-month wait
About 40 Australian army tanks have arrived in Ukraine to help defend the country against Vladimir Putin’s invading Russian forces, ending a frustrating nine-month wait for the shipment to arrive.
The Albanese government announced it would provide Ukraine with 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks last October, but their delivery was held up by bureaucratic delays in the United States Congress, which needed to approve the transfer.
An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams main battle tank is lifted onto a ship in Australia, bound for Ukraine. Credit: Tristan Kennedy
Defence Minister Richard Marles said the tanks “will make a significant contribution to Ukraine’s ongoing fight against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion”.
“I was pleased to meet the Australian Army personnel who helped facilitate the delivery of these tanks from Australia to Ukraine,” Marles said.
“Australia remains steadfast in our support for Ukraine and seeing a just and lasting peace.”
The majority of the tanks have now been delivered to the Ukrainian armed forces, with a final tranche to arrive in coming months.
The government declined to provide the exact number of tanks that have been provided so far, but sources not authorised to speak publicly said it was around 40.
The tank support package is valued at $245 million, bringing the value of Australia’s total contribution to Ukraine since the war began to $1.5 billion.
Ukraine took possession of the tanks after they were loaded onto a commercial shipping vessel in Geelong.
Some military experts have questioned the usefulness of tanks in the Ukraine war because they can be relatively easily targeted by drones, but Ukraine has applauded Australia’s decision to send them to the battlefield.
Australia’s M1A1 Abrams tanks will be used in battle for the first time in Ukraine.
Ukrainian technicians have refitted some tanks with steel cages to shield them from drone attacks.
Australia’s fleet of M1A1 Abrams tanks was never used in combat and is being replaced by newer models.
Bought for $550 million in 2004, the heavily armoured tanks weigh 63 tonnes each and are equipped with cannons and machine guns.
Congressional approval was needed for them to be sent to Ukraine because the vehicles are American-made.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said: “These modified M1A1 Abrams tanks will deliver more firepower and more mobility to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“They meet a direct request from the Ukrainian government and form part of Australia’s unwavering commitment to protect the global rules-based order.”
Conroy previously said there were “technology restrictions” in sending the tanks, but said this would not stop them being deployed.
Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, urged the government to send tanks to Ukraine, describing them as “an essential part of our land defence”.
“If Australia makes them available to Ukraine either directly, or indirectly through the US, we will gladly accept them and put them to good use,” he said last year ahead of the government’s announcement.
Australia will also deploy a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to Europe in August to help protect international assistance to Ukraine.
After briefly suspending military aid to Ukraine, the Trump administration has ramped up arms shipments and is considering selling Patriot air defence systems from its own stocks.
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