Yesterday at 22:30
Dozens of soon-to-be-retired Australian Abrams tanks will be sent to Ukraine under a $245 million military support package to bolster the war-torn country’s fight against Russia’s invasion.
More than a year after Kyiv first expressed interest in the aging M1A1 fleet, and months after Australia rejected a request to donate its grounded Taipan helicopters, the Albanese government has confirmed it will now gift 49 of the American-made tanks.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy, who is attending a NATO defence 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,” Mr Conroy said while in London, where he’s meeting members of the UK government before travelling to NATO.
“These tanks will deliver more firepower and mobility to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and complement the support provided by our partners for Ukraine’s armoured brigades — Australia has been steadfast in our support for Ukraine.”
