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Footage has emerged of former Australian Defence Force special operations vehicles being used on the battlefield in Ukraine.
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Shared widely on social media, an HMT Extenda Mk 2 “Coyote” tactical vehicle has been photographed wrecked near Avdiivka in Ukraine.
The Australian Defence Force has previously operated the Supacat HMT Mk2 Extenda to enhance special operations capability, procured under Joint Project 2097 (REDFIN) Phase 1B. UK vehicle manufacturer Supacat was engaged under a $105 million contract to deliver 89 Special Operations Vehicles - Commando (SOV-Cdo) under the program.
The former ADF vehicles were designed for military deployment with protection, transportability and firepower, while retaining mobility and versatility. Each vehicle was originally delivered in four reconfigurable roles and saw operations in Afghanistan.
In June 2023, the Australian government announced it would provide 14 Special Operations Vehicles (among a total 70 military vehicles) in a $110 million assistance package to Ukraine.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, speaking at the time of the announcement, said Australia is proud to be one of the largest non-NATO contributors in support of Ukraine and will continue to support Ukraine to end the war on its own terms.
“We pay tribute to the extraordinary courage and resolve of the Ukrainian people, and stand with them,” Minister Wong said.
“Ukrainian families, children and the elderly have borne a terrible cost from Russia’s invasion, and Australia is providing funding to support them.
“Russia cannot be allowed to infringe upon another country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking with 3AW radio on 1 March about support to Ukraine, said the federal government has also recently announced $50 million of support to Ukraine for weapons and energy.
“They (Ukraine) asked for further support and I announced just over a week ago an additional $50 million for the Ukraine,” he said.
“We’ve provided this support on top of all the other support that we’ve given. We are one of the largest non-NATO contributors. And that’s because we understand that the fight that Ukraine is doing, showing enormous courage, isn’t just a fight for their national sovereignty and their democracy, it’s a fight for the international rule of law.
“We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. We have regularly, under my government, made a number of announcements at regular intervals to continue to support Ukraine and we will continue to look at measures in which we can provide support.”
