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Australia and Ukraine have agreed on a timeframe for delivery of Abrams main battle tanks, according to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.
The Australian Government had previously announced the gifting of 49 M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine as part of a military assistance package worth around $245 million, in October 17.
“We will continue to support Ukraine, as we've said. And we stand with Ukraine so that this can be, this conflict can be resolved on Ukraine's terms,” the Deputy Prime Minister said during an ABC radio interview on March 4.
“In terms of the Abrams tanks, that's a commitment that we've made and we have established a timeline with the Ukrainian government about the delivery of those tanks to Ukraine… For operational reasons (we) won't go into the detail of that timeline.
“They'll definitely arrive in a timely fashion and they'll arrive in a timeframe that we've agreed with Ukraine and that's exactly how we have managed the delivery of other equipment to Ukraine.
“This has been agreed with Ukraine and they're very grateful for the contribution.”
The M1A1 Abrams tanks have been an important capability for the Australian Army, providing substantial defence against enemy fire and improvised explosive devices. As they have done for Australia, the Abrams tanks will see both the capability and resistance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine further bolstered.
As was announced in January 2022, the Australian Army M1A1 Abrams are to be replaced by the M1A2 fleet. To support the transition, the Australian Army will retain a small number of M1A1 Abrams tanks to assist the introduction of the new M1A2 fleet.
Late last year, the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko confirmed that the country was also interested in acquiring the Australian Defence Force’s retiring Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopter fleet.
The aircraft originally entered deployment in 2003 and are due for a withdrawal from service in 2028.
“I mean on the Taipan (helicopters) it was a decision of the government not to supply them. There might be some other helicopters or some other capabilities which may become available sometime soon. And if those could be provided to Ukraine, we’ll be thankful,” the ambassador said during a media conference regarding a shipment of Kord Defence equipment to Ukraine, held on 19 June last year.
“That would be the Tigers; we’d be interested in having that conversation and about something that will help.”
