Australia Delivers 20 Bushmaster Armored Vehicles To Ukraine, Equipped With Extra Protection And Special Paint

Delivery of the Bushmaster to Ukraine. (Twitter/Joint Operations Command)

JAKARTA - Australia will send Bushmaster armored vehicles to Ukraine to face the Russian invasion, as a form of solidarity with the shipments being carried out in waves.

Australian officials confirmed that the total number of Bushmasters to be sent to Ukraine reached 20, following a direct request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a speech before the Australian Parliament some time ago.

The first three units of Australian-made armored carriers were flown from Kangaroo Country on Friday last week, using military transport aircraft as the invasion entered its seventh week.

"The Bushmaster is well suited to provide protection to Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers and Ukrainian civilians against mines and improvised explosive devices, shrapnel from artillery and small arms fire," Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Defense Secretary Peter Dutton said in a joint statement. Kyodo News April 10.

The total gift of this armored vehicle is worth around 50 million Australian dollars or around IDR 535,101,930,500. Backed by further commitments to anti-armor weapons and ammunition totaling A$26.5 million or around Rp.283,604,023,165 as of Friday night. The total Australian military aid to Ukraine reached around 191.5 million Australian dollars or around Rp.2,049,440,393,815.

As military vehicles, the 20 Bushmasters underwent adjustments, such as a special olive green paint to suit the Ukrainian environment. Then, there is also radio telecommunications, GPS and additional shields to increase protection.

Delivery of the Bushmaster to Ukraine. (Twitter/Joint Operations Command)

Except for the two ambulance variants bearing the traditional Red Cross emblem, both sides of the vehicle are painted with the Ukrainian flag and the words 'United with Ukraine' in English and Ukrainian, to show solidarity.

"Australia may be thousands of kilometers away, but we stand side by side with Ukraine against this illegal invasion with weapons, equipment, aid and even energy resources," PM Morrison and Minister Dutton continued.

As for the remaining 17 Bushmaster vehicles, they will be sent to Ukraine in the next few weeks, Minister Dutton continued to reporters.

It is known, until now, Australia has also been recorded to have provided humanitarian assistance amounting to A$65 million or around Rp. 695,632,509,650 for Ukraine.

Separately, Thales Australia, defense contractor for the Australian military is entrusted with preparing this Bushmaster for Ukraine, with work being carried out in Brisbanr

"Proud to support Bushmasters Australia's donation to Ukraine. Built by Thales in Bendigo, our team in Brisbane has been working around the clock to prepare them for airlift to Ukraine today," Thales wrote on Twitter account @ThalesAustralia.