The committee recommends that the Australian Government urgently directs the Department of Defence to develop plans to provide Ukraine with:

• additional Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles;
• Hawkei reconnaissance vehicles;
• the retiring M1A1 Abrams tanks;
• the retiring Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters;
• other retired or unused military equipment; and
• innovative defence capabilities, some of which have been provided previously, including drone, counter‐drone, x‐ray, de‑mining, 3‐D printing, communications, and other equipment.

Government Response to Recommendation 14

The Government notes this recommendation.

The Government remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s self-defence and providing military assistance to Ukraine that is relevant, practical, aligned with Ukraine’s needs, consistent with international law, and with no adverse impact on ADF preparedness. This has included the Government’s decision and announcement to provide Ukraine with 49 M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks.

The Government will continue to assess options of further military assistance, including in close consultation with Ukraine, and as disposal plans are developed for particular platforms. The Bushmaster, Hawkei and Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter are all in-service platforms – the latter critical to support capability and workforce requirements until the introduction of the AH-64 Apache attack helicopters into service. The disposal plan is yet to be determined, which will include options for gifting, and will be considered in due course.

The Government, through Defence, will continue to assess future options of support through procurement from Australian defence industry, with any such procurement carefully aligned to Ukrainian Ministry of Defence and AFU needs.