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The £92 million package was announced during a meeting of defence ministers from the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force.
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According to the British Ministry of Defence, the package is set to include radars, weapons, and a “significant amount” of ammunition, and has been designed to mitigate the risk of indiscriminate Russian attacks on civilian populations and infrastructure.
The equipment is scheduled to be purchased through the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU) over the coming months, and forms part of the UK government’s recent £250 million pledge for the fund.
The IFU supplies lethal and non-lethal assistance to Ukraine, with over £770 million raised by the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, and Lithuania for the fund. An additional four packages of support from the IFU are expected to be announced in this procurement round.
Confirmation of the air defence package was made by the UK’s Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, during a meeting between the defence ministers of the Joint Expeditionary Force.
The Joint Expeditionary Force was created in 2015, and now consists of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom with a focus on ensuring stability in the High North, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea.
“The Joint Expeditionary Force brings together like-minded nations committed to preserving security and stability in Northern Europe, and providing ongoing support for Ukraine,” Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said.
“The UK has contributed a further £250 million to the International Fund for Ukraine and, with allies and partners, through the fund we are providing a package of air defence to help Ukraine protect their critical national infrastructure and defend against indiscriminate Russian air strikes.”
The announcement comes following calls for Australia to join the “tank coalition” and provide the Ukrainian armed forces with armour to conduct ground operations.
In late May, the Ukrainian government called on Australia to provide Hawkei light four-wheel-drive protected mobility vehicles and join the international tank coalition, ahead of their counter-offensive.
Amid the country’s calls for support, the Ukrainian Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov thanked Australia for its previous aid and 90 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles provided during the first months of the conflict.
He also called for the land down under to join NATO plans for the supply of 14 German Leopard 2, 20 Spanish and British Challenger 2s, and 31 US Abrams main battle tanks to the war-torn country.
Dear Australian friends,
— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) May 28, 2023
Throughout history you have repeatedly proven that Australians are a nation of freedom-loving warriors who always stand up to a bully.
You are 15 thousand kilometers away, yet we are very close in our shared values and readiness to defend them.
That’s… pic.twitter.com/SXeQ77dH1C
“Throughout history you have repeatedly proven that Australians are a nation of freedom-loving warriors who always stand up to a bully,” Minister Reznikov said.
“You are 15,000 kilometres away, yet we are very close in our shared values and readiness to defend them.
“That’s why during the first months of the Russian aggression, Australia was the largest contributor to Ukraine outside of NATO. Your Bushmasters have been incredible in real combat operations.
“But our fight for global freedom is not over yet and we still need your support. I encourage you today to join the international tank coalition for Ukraine.
“In addition to tanks, we would be honoured to receive the Australian Hawkies (Hawkei). They could prove invaluable to our troops during the counteroffensive. Stand with Ukraine. Together we can defend our shared values.
“Together, we can and we will achieve victory.”
