Dozens of soon-to-be-retired Australian Abrams tanks will be sent to Ukraine under a $245 million military support package.
As reported by Australian outlet ABC, Australia has received the first of its newer M1A2 tanks in recent weeks. Therefore, older tanks can be transferred to Ukraine.
The announcement has been welcomed by Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia. A small number of the vehicles will require remediation before being delivered. Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy, who is attending a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels this week, will brief his Ukrainian counterpart directly about the latest support package.
“We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine in their fight against Russia’s illegal invasion,” Conroy said while in London, where he’s meeting members of the UK government before traveling to NATO.
In addition, Conroy noted that “these tanks will deliver more firepower and mobility to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and complement the support provided by our partners for Ukraine’s armored brigades — Australia has been steadfast in our support for Ukraine.”
“As we face a challenging geo-strategic environment, it is important that we continue to work together with our partners around the world to deter aggression and coercion, and protect the global rules-based order,” Conroy concluded.
Australia’s transfer of its aging Abrams to a “third country” has required permission from the United States under its International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) despite Washington last year sending 31 of its own M1A1 tanks to Ukraine.
As Australia’s older M1A1 vehicles are reaching the end of their life, a small number will require remediation work before being delivered to Europe, or they could simply be sent quickly to Ukraine and used for spare parts or other roles.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, has welcomed the donation of Australia’s Abrams tanks, describing the move as a “significant contribution” that will save lives in his country.
“These tanks will be an essential part of our land defences, and we have already been operating some of those tanks, which we’ve been provided by the Americans in the past, so we already have teams of people who know how to use that equipment,” the ambassador told the ABC.
Furthermore, the Ukrainian ambassador said that “the armor they have, the missiles that they also use will be of huge help to Ukrainians on the battlefield, especially where we build those defense lines.”
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