Australia has officially delivered the first batch of M1A1 ABRAMS tanks to Ukraine, respecting part of a package of military aid promised in 2024 to support Ukrainian resistance against the Russian invasion.
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The shipment includes over half of the 49 promised abandoned armed wagons. The remaining units will be sent in the coming months. These vehicles were part of the Australian fleet purchased in 2007, recently replaced with more modern versions of the M1A2 Abrams.
The delivery is part of a package of 2 245 million dollars armored vehicles, included in the broader commitment of Australia of 1.5 billion dollars for the defense of Ukraine since the beginning of the war in 2022.
Although the tanks had been initially promised in October 2024, the delivery has undergone delays due to the approval requirements by the United States and logistical difficulties. The US authorities expressed concern about the complexity of the transfer and the maintenance capacity of the Abrams on the Ukrainian battlefield.
Despite the obstacles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ambassador to Canberra Vasyl Myroshnychenko have publicly celebrated the arrival of the vehicles.
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“Every day without these tanks on the battlefield it means more lost lives,” said Myroshnychenko, underlining the urgency of aid.
Ukraine formalized the request for Abrams in February 2024. In August of the same year, Australia withdrew its last M1A1 from the service. Less than a year later, the first armored vehicles arrived in Ukraine.
In addition to the tanks, Australia will send an e-7a Wedgetail plane of the Royal Australian Air Force to August 2025 to support international humanitarian corridors in Europe. The country also maintains its participation in the Kudu operation, which contributes to the training of Ukrainian forces.
The ambassador Myroshnychenko has also reiterated the need for new equipment, such as Hawkei and Bushmaster vehicles. According to reports, most of the 120 Bushmaster already delivered were destroyed or damaged, and renewed the appeal for the release of the Hawkei fleet.
Source: Ministry of Defense of Australia | X @defenceaust | Wikimedia. This content was created with the help of artificial intelligence and overhauled by the editorial staff.
