Bushmasters flown to Ukraine
Following a direct request from Ukraine's president Volodymir Zelenskyy during his address to the Australian parliament on 31 March 2022, Australia will provide further support to the government of Ukraine by gifting 20 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles, including two ambulance variants. They are flown to Europe on RAAF C-17 transports, which can carry four of these 11 t weighing vehicles at a time.
Built in Australia since 1997 to provide protected mobility transport, the Bushmaster is well suited to provide protection to soldiers of the Ukrainian armed forces and Ukrainian civilians against mines and improvised explosive devices, shrapnel from artillery and small arms fire.
Australia's department of defence will continue to work with Ukraine to develop a suitable logistics support package. (ah)