Bushmaster in review: Ukrainian troops credit effective Australian armour

A news feature styled-video entitled "Bushmaster IMV in the Kursk Region, Russia. Australian Armor in Service with Air Assault Forces" was published by the Ukrainian government-run youtube channel UNITED24 earlier this week on December 7.

The video details interviews with Ukrainian drivers and commanders of the Thales-manufactured vehicles, equipped with a remote weapon station 7.62mm machinegun and thermal vision systems, following their use in helping Ukrainian Air Assault Forces during missions into the Kursk Oblast region of Russia.

"You sit quite high, you have a good view. Steering wheel on the right, obviously, but in war that doesn't matter. It's comfortable and it's armoured," says the interviewer, journalist Philip Malzahn.

"If the crew aren't not fighting by themselves (against the Russians), then they are taking ten, maybe more, infantry with them. When that door opens the guys might not know what will be waiting... but at least the drive there is quite comfortable.

"The Bushmaster was built to withstand extremely hot temperatures. As you can see there is air conditioning everywhere. Eight vents just in the back... pretty cool ride. It also feels quite smooth."

The Australian Government has provided more than 120 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles to Ukraine since the war in Europe began.

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Observations made by Ukraine personnel include discussions about troop space and that the two entry/exit points from the Bushmaster being the top hatch and back of the vehicle, as the front doors do not open.

"There are eight seats for the troops but we can fit a lot more. About 15 to 18 people can get in quickly. When we need to pick up guys from positions, 15 guys with rifles, machine guns in full gear, but with empty backpacks load up in about 15 to 20 seconds.

"This is kevlar, additional protection against shrapnel," according to driver 'Tur', indicating a layer of kevlar placed between the inside shell and seats of the Bushmaster.

"I've been working with a Bushmaster for about a year and a half. Before that, I worked also with the Strykers and the BTR-80s.

"The armour here is much better than the BTR-80s and the soviet equipment. You're driving and all you hear is 'ding, ding, ding' and nothing else. Just muffled explosions somewhere, meaning the armour is good.

"There are no drawbacks if you have a good driver. Bushmasters on the frontline are mostly used like taxis, they only transport the troops and provide some cover. The 7.62mm round, well, it might be scary for infantry but against vehicles it's not much.

"We have good armour and there is additional armour on top of that. There's a pretty good winch, ten tonnes I think. Tow hitch, electrical system. Up here are hidden points for connecting antenna."

Ukrainian navigator, commander and gun operator 'Solodki' said the Bushmaster, which appeared to be fitted with a Belgian 7.62mm machine gun configured R400 remote weapon station manufactured by Australian defence company EOS, can be used from inside the vehicle in conjunction with thermal vision systems

"There's a day and a night camera here. The (weapon station) module rotates 360 degrees," he said.

"Sometimes you're on a mission during the day but you might get delayed and have to head out at night. You turn on the cameras and you can see all the signitures.

"You can set the module to cold or warm mode. If you set it to cold, for example, in a hollow or a pit everything will appear black but the signitures of people will be light. It's a very useful tool."

The supply of Bushmaster vehicles to Ukraine is part of more then $1.5 billion towards important defence, economic, energy and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in response to Russia's invasion on 24 February 2022.

That aid also includes air defence missiles and air-to-ground munitions, boots, guided weapons, small arms ammunition, M113 armoured vehicles, M777 howitzers, drones and drone systems.

Australian Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh, speaking to ABC RN Breakfast on November 5 this year, confirmed that the government is continuing support to Ukraine.

"The Bushmasters are an amazing Australian technology, used not just by Australia, but a number of countries around the world," according to Minister Keogh.

"We've been very happy to provide Ukraine with a number of those Bushmasters to assist them in their efforts against Russia. And they've been proven time and time again to be very helpful.

"As I just said, with all of the requests we receive from Ukraine, we consider them and make decisions and announce those as those decisions are made. And we'll always consider the requests that they make."

Australia also contributes to the training of Ukrainian recruits undertaken by Australian Defence Force personnel in the United Kingdom, as part of Operation KUDU.

Since January 2023, Operation Kudu has supported the UK-led multinational training mission Operation Interflex, which was expanded in January 2024 to include a junior leader training program. The Royal Australian Air Force also provides E-7A Wedgetail aircraft and crew to support a multinational effort to provide early warning for potential threats from Russia outside of Ukraine.

"Solodki and Tur are typical Ukrainian soldiers. Brave, humourous, motivated. They want the world rest assured that the Bushmaster is now in good hands," concludes Malzahn.