According to information published by the Australia Department of Defence on October 27, 2022, Australia will supply 30 additional Bushmaster 4x4 protected mobility vehicles to Ukraine , and up to 70 soldiers from the Australian Defence Forces will be deployed in the United Kingdom to train Ukrainian soldiers.
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In April 2022, Australia had already sent Bushmaster armored vehicles to Ukraine. (Picture source Australia DoD)
Australian soldiers will join personnel deployed from New Zealand, Canada, and various European countries already helping to generate additional capacity within the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Since the beginning of the war Australia has provided Ukraine with about $655 million in support, including $475 million in military assistance. In April 2022, sent M777 howitzers and Australian-built Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles by Ukrainian-based cargo aviation company Antonov Airlines. This latest airlift follows the Australian Government announcements on the gifting of 20 Bushmaster armored vehicles, including two ambulance variants, and six M777 howitzers with ammunition to aid the Government of Ukraine.
In terms of combat vehicles, Australia has already delivered Ukraine 28 M113AS4 tracked armored APCs (Armored Personnel Carrier) vehicles and 90 Bushmaster 4x4 protected mobility vehicles.
The Bushmaster is a highly mobile, ballistics, mine and improvised explosive device (IED) blast-resistant Protected Mobility Vehicle (PMV) designed and manufactured by Thales Australia. It enters into service with the Australian army in 1997.
The design of the Bushmaster is standard for a modern wheeled combat vehicle with an engine at the front, crew cabin in the middle,, and troops compartment at the rear. The APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) version has a crew of two including a driver and commander. The rear part of the vehicle can accommodate up to 8 infantrymen.
The monocoque hull of the Bushmaster is of all-welded steel armor construction, which provides protection from both anti-vehicular and anti-personnel mines containing up to 9.5 kg of TNT, together with protection from 5.56 and 7.62 mm small arms fire. The vehicle can be armored to provide protection from 5.56 and 7.62 mm armor-piercing rounds using a composite appliqué armor kit. The underbody of the Bushmaster hull has been specially designed using V-hull technology to deflect mine blasts.
