ABC Business
Australia commits $160m to build more Bushmasters after donating 90 to Ukraine in war against Russia
17-5-2023
Bushmasters to Ukraine
Thales Australia is well-known globally for its Bushmaster, and now Hawkei, protected military vehicles as Ukraine uses the former in its war against Russia.
Australia has provided Ukraine with 90 Bushmasters to help in its efforts and now it wants the light protected mobility vehicle, the Hawkei.
Mr Conroy would not be drawn on whether Australia would send more Hawkei vehicles to Ukraine as publicly requested by its ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko in April.
"We're focused on delivering what we've already committed to the government and people of Ukraine, Mr Conroy said.
"We're proud to be one of the biggest non-NATO contributors of military aid to Ukraine in their valiant efforts to stop the unprovoked aggression from Vladimir Putin.
"We're always talking to our allies and partners about how we can support Ukraine best."
This month, a new Defence Strategy outlined a new direction for Australia's military, which involved moving away from land capability and focusing on long-range missiles, leaving the future of the Bushmaster, manufacturing jobs in Bendigo, and Thales Australia's future in the regional city in doubt.
In August last year, the Australian Army unveiled an electric prototype of the Bushmaster it said could be a part of the future of Army capability in Australia or on the battleground.
The French defence manufacturer Thales has not had a contract for the Bushmaster since New Zealand placed an order in 2020 for 43 Bushmaster vehicles.
The contract was worth $75 million and required Thales Australia to deliver five variants of the armoured vehicle by 2022.
In August last year, 29 jobs were axed from the North Bendigo facility after the run of 1,100 Hawkei vehicles ordered by Australia was completed.
Earlier this month, Thales Australia pleaded guilty in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria over the death of a painter at its North Bendigo facility in 2020 and will be sentenced next month. Under occupational health and safety laws, it faces a maximum fine of $1.5 million.
Last month, Ukraine called on Australia to send its Hawkei protected mobility vehicles to the battlefield.
A Bushmaster bound for Ukraine waits to be loaded onto a C-17A Globemaster at RAAF Base Amberley. (Supplied: Department of Defence, LACW Emma Schwenke)
© Provided by ABC Business
Australia commits $160m to build more Bushmasters after donating 90 to Ukraine in war against Russia
17-5-2023
Bushmasters to Ukraine
Thales Australia is well-known globally for its Bushmaster, and now Hawkei, protected military vehicles as Ukraine uses the former in its war against Russia.
Australia has provided Ukraine with 90 Bushmasters to help in its efforts and now it wants the light protected mobility vehicle, the Hawkei.
Mr Conroy would not be drawn on whether Australia would send more Hawkei vehicles to Ukraine as publicly requested by its ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko in April.
"We're focused on delivering what we've already committed to the government and people of Ukraine, Mr Conroy said.
"We're proud to be one of the biggest non-NATO contributors of military aid to Ukraine in their valiant efforts to stop the unprovoked aggression from Vladimir Putin.
"We're always talking to our allies and partners about how we can support Ukraine best."
This month, a new Defence Strategy outlined a new direction for Australia's military, which involved moving away from land capability and focusing on long-range missiles, leaving the future of the Bushmaster, manufacturing jobs in Bendigo, and Thales Australia's future in the regional city in doubt.
In August last year, the Australian Army unveiled an electric prototype of the Bushmaster it said could be a part of the future of Army capability in Australia or on the battleground.
The French defence manufacturer Thales has not had a contract for the Bushmaster since New Zealand placed an order in 2020 for 43 Bushmaster vehicles.
The contract was worth $75 million and required Thales Australia to deliver five variants of the armoured vehicle by 2022.
In August last year, 29 jobs were axed from the North Bendigo facility after the run of 1,100 Hawkei vehicles ordered by Australia was completed.
Earlier this month, Thales Australia pleaded guilty in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria over the death of a painter at its North Bendigo facility in 2020 and will be sentenced next month. Under occupational health and safety laws, it faces a maximum fine of $1.5 million.
Last month, Ukraine called on Australia to send its Hawkei protected mobility vehicles to the battlefield.
A Bushmaster bound for Ukraine waits to be loaded onto a C-17A Globemaster at RAAF Base Amberley. (Supplied: Department of Defence, LACW Emma Schwenke)
© Provided by ABC Business
12 months ago
