Australia donates 49 old Abrams tanks to Ukraine

Mr Marles said the Australian government had supplied Ukraine with most of its US-made M1A1 tanks. Some would need to be refurbished before being sent, or could be used as spare parts as Ukrainian soldiers currently use US-funded M1A1 tanks, also known as Abrams.

Australia's latest $245 million (US$163 million) aid package to Ukraine also includes anti-aircraft missiles, guided weapons, anti-tank weapons, artillery, mortars and small arms ammunition.

The tanks bring Australia's total military aid to Ukraine since February 2022 to $1.3 billion, including 120 Bushmaster vehicles.

“We are truly honoured to be the largest non-NATO contributor of military aid,” said Australian Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy.

He said the US had given Australia permission to transfer the tanks to Ukraine in accordance with the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations. "We are working very closely with our US allies on the donation of these tanks," Mr Conroy said.

The US has agreed to send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in January 2023 after Kiev's months-long campaign, saying the tanks are vital to breaking through Russian defenses.

Mr Conroy said Australia had not placed any specific conditions on how Ukraine would use the tanks or whether they would cross the Russian border. “Our long-standing principle is that as long as they are used in accordance with the rules of international law, there should be no other conditions,” he said.

Australia is upgrading to the M1A2 version of the Abrams tank. The country will replace its older M1A1 Abrams tanks with a fleet of 75 next-generation M1A2 tanks.

Ngoc Anh (according to AP, Guardian)