Albanese announces 30 more Bushmasters for Ukraine

Prime minister Anthony Albanese has pledged a further 30 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles to Ukraine during the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

According to a statement last night (Australian time), this takes the number of Bushmaster vehicles – built by Thales in Bendigo – pledged to 120. The total of military assistance from Australia since Ukraine was invaded by Russia in February 2022 is now $710 million. 

“We are proud to provide additional Bushmaster vehicles to assist the brave men and women fighting for their home and their nation’s sovereignty,” said Albanese in a statement.

“Russia unilaterally launched this illegal and immoral invasion and should withdraw its troops and end the conflict immediately.”

Albanese made the announcement after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Vilnius.

The first Bushmasters for Ukraine were pledged by former prime minister Scott Morrison in April 2022.

Over 1,200 Bushmasters have been made so far at Bendigo. The vehicles are a 15-tonne, 4×4 protected vehicle, with a 4-tonne payload, and made in variants including troop carrier command, patrol, support weapons deployment and ambulance.

They are designed with a V-shaped hull which redirects blasts out from under the vehicle, and provide personnel with high levels of blast and ballistic protection.

According to Thales, Bushmasters have been exported to eight nations including the Netherlands, UK, Fiji, Jamaica, New Zealand, Japan and Indonesia.

Picture: credit Thales

Further reading

Canberra orders $160m in new Bushmasters

Bushmasters cross the ditch to NZ

More Bushmasters bound for Ukraine

Australia asked to send Bushmasters to Ukraine