Australia Has Provided Ukraine With a New Batch of Bushmaster Armored Vehicles
The Ambassador of Australia to Ukraine, Bruce Edwards, announced that the country is sending a new batch of Australian Bushmaster armored vehicles to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
He wrote about this in his X.
"Not much says Merry Christmas to a close friend far across the seas quite as well as saving lives. Proud to see the role of Bushmasters recognised among key military assistance provided to Ukraine. And more are on their way! Do feel v. free to open them before 25 December," Edwards said.
In turn, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine thanked their Australian counterparts, emphasizing that Bushmaster armored vehicles have proven themselves successfully in battle and played a crucial role in a successful counteroffensive in Kharkiv in September 2022.
"Today, we would like to say thank you to our Australian friends at the Ministry of Defense of Australia. Despite the significant distance between our countries, we are bonded by shared democratic values. We are particularly grateful for the Bushmaster MRAPs that were provided to the Ukrainian army," the Ukrainian ministry's statement read.
It's worth noting that Bushmasters are distinguished by their high maneuverability, off-road capability, and exceptional resistance to explosive mines. These characteristics save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers as they defend against Russian attacks.
In May 2023, Australia ordered 78 Bushmaster armored vehicles with a total value of $160 million to replenish stocks sent to Ukraine. The work on the new vehicles is expected to last for 18 months from the signing of the contract.
This July, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, announced the provision of an additional 30 armored Bushmaster vehicles to Ukraine.
"We’ll provide 30 more Australian-made Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles to support Ukraine. This new military assistance package takes the total number of Bushmasters committed to 120," Albanese wrote in his statement.
Earlier, The Gaze reported that the German defense company Rheinmetall had signed a contract worth €142 million for the production of 155mm shells intended for Ukraine. The main part of the deliveries is planned for 2025, while a portion of the total order, 40,000 units, is expected to be delivered in 2024.