In a renewed effort to defeat Russia, Ukraine has offered to be Australia’s war “guinea pig” by bringing cutting-edge military vehicles to the battlefield.
As Ukrainian troops continue to advance on Russian forces, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, the ambassador of Ukraine to Australia, will urge the government to send a fleet of 30 recently constructed light-armoured combat vehicles.
The Australian defense force approved the use of the patrol vehicles, known as Hawkeis, in July of last year; but, they have not yet been put to the test in a real-world fight.
According to Mr. Myroshnychenko, the deal benefits both nations since Ukraine will give Australia’s defense force critical feedback on the unproven vehicles.
The patrol vehicles, dubbed Hawkeis, were approved for use by the Australian defence force last July, but are yet to be tested on a real-life battlefield (pictured, a Hawkei in Perth, in 2021)
Vasyl Myroshnychenko, the ambassador of Ukraine to Australia, said the deal was advantageous for both nations since Ukraine will give Australia critical feedback on the new cars.
He told the Sydney Morning Herald, “In my opinion, we could utilize 30 of those to test them on the battlefield, see how they operate, and we’ll provide invaluable feedback to the Australian defence forces for you to develop those vehicles.”
The Ukrainian envoy expressed his admiration for the “nimble” patrol cars after visiting the Thales production facility in the Victorian city of Bendigo.
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The Hawkeis are extremely impressive since they are new, smaller, faster, and more agile, he remarked.
They aid us in the conflict, and we aid you in preparing them to adapt to a combat situation.
The new vehicles have improved ballistic protection, can accommodate up to five soldiers, and are light enough to be flown by helicopter.
The defense agency reported a problem with the vehicle’s braking mechanism in 2020, and the factory temporarily ceased receiving new Hawkeis.
The patrol vehicles, which bear the name Acanthophis hawkei after an Australian death adder, are still in the testing stage and are expected to operate at full capacity in 2019.
Former defense minister Peter Dutton said the braking problem had been fixed in July.
The Bushmaster and Protected Medium Heavy Capability trucks will be joined by the Hawkei, which is anticipated to achieve full operational capability in 2023, to form a suite of protected mobility vehicles, according to Mr. Dutton.
ADF soldiers will be better protected from blast and ballistic threats because to the new fleet of lighter vehicles.
In addition to the 30 Hawkeis, Australia has already pledged 60 Bushmaster vehicles to Ukraine, and Mr. Myroshnychenko has asked for a further 30.
To replace the 1,300 Land Rover models already in use, the Commonwealth has invested $1.3 billion in a fleet of 1,100 of the new light-armored vehicles.
The Ukrainian ambassador visited the Thales manufacturing plant in the Victorian city of Bendigo and said he was impressed by the ‘nimble’ patrol vehicles
Ukraine has requested an additional 30 of the 60 Bushmaster vehicles that Australia has already committed to providing (pictured, Bushmaster armoured vehicles in Townsville)
According to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Australia has already committed to providing Ukraine with aid worth close to $300 million.
According to the Defence Minister, “We’re also looking at new methods in which we might support Ukraine.”
Despite the distance between Australia and Ukraine, the statement reads, “While Australia stands for the global rules-based order that it helped develop and maintain, we actually do believe that these principles need to be protected everywhere.”
Last month, Russian forces put on a military trophy exhibition of vehicles they had taken from Ukrainian forces, including a ruined Australian Bushmaster.
In Patriot Park, which is located just outside of Moscow, the gutted and blast-damaged Bushmaster was displayed with a banner and sign depicting the Australian flag.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last month announced an additional $99.5 million aid package for war-torn Ukraine (pictured, Ukrainian soldiers near Kharkiv)
Last month, Russian forces showed a wrecked Bushmaster built in Australia alongside other vehicles they had taken from Ukrainian forces as war trophies.
One of the 20 Australian Bushmasters vehicles that had been delivered to the Ukrainian military as military assistance had reportedly been destroyed in May between the eastern Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Video showed a burnt-out Bushmaster wreckage lying in a barren field, but a Ukrainian officer assured an Australian reporter that everyone inside the car had survived.
Ukrainian soldiers have sung the praises of Australian-made Bushmasters and have asked for more to be sent to fight off the brutal Russian invasion of their country.
According to reports, the hardy, adaptable cars were frequently in use in eastern Ukraine under intense fire as front-line ambulances.
Last month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled a new $99.5 million aid package for the conflict-torn Ukraine.
This takes the total amount committed to the Ukrainian war effort to $388 million, making it the largest non-NATO country contribution.