Ukraine calls on Australia to provide with Hawkei armored vehicles
The Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov has appealed to Australia with a request to supply the Ukrainian defense forces with Hawkei armored vehicles and also called on Australia to join the international tank coalition to strengthen Ukraine's armed forces.
The video of the appeal was posted by the Minister on Twitter.
“Our fight for global freedom is not over yet and we still need your support. I encourage you today to join the international tank coalition for Ukraine. In addition to tanks, we would be honored to receive the Australian Hawkies. They could prove invaluable to our troops during the counteroffensive,” the Minister said.
The appeal does not mention a specific tank model. However, the Australian Armed Forces currently have only 59 M1A1 Abrams tanks, therefore, it is more likely that this could be the German Leopard 1 tanks already known to Ukraine in a slightly specific version – Leopard AS1.
Reznikov also recalled that Australia has already provided Ukraine with significant military support, and the country's contribution in the first months of the full-fledged invasion was the most significant among non-NATO countries.
Hawkei is an Australian-made armored vehicle, developed for the Australian Army. The Project Land 121 Phase 4 - Protected Mobility Vehicle - Light program was designed to create a lightweight armored vehicle for general purposes.
In early May, the media reported that the United States and Australia were working on a joint military aid package for Ukraine. At that time, Kyiv published a list of necessary weapons, including Hawkie armored vehicles.
"We are a big supporter of the Ukrainian efforts to repel the Russian invaders and that will be represented in the budget," Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said during a meeting with journalists.
Heavy equipment is one of the basic needs of the Ukrainian army in its defense against Russian aggression. This winter, the United States supplied Ukraine with 50 Bradley fighting vehicles; 100 armored personnel carriers; M113; 55 MRAPs; 138 HUMVEEs; Earlier, the French government sent AMX-10RC wheeled armored vehicles and VAB armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. A number of other allies are providing Ukraine with Leopard tanks.