Australia ‘nowhere near’ delivering Ukraine all Bushmasters promised

The Federal Government has not delivered Bendigo-built Bushmasters fast enough to Ukraine, let alone promised enough.

That is the view of Australian Senator David Van, one of the few politicians to have seen the heavily armoured troop carriers at work in the embattled European country.

He visited Ukraine's Donbas region last August and spoke with soldiers using Bushmasters donated by Australia against the invading Russian army.

Senator Van is increasingly concerned about the speed of the deployment to Ukraine eight months after the first three arrived.

"It's not the full compliment. It's nowhere near it," he has told the Advertiser. What's more, Senator Van believes Ukraine needs double the number of Bushmasters promised so far to properly protect three brigades. His line of questioning in a senate estimates committee meeting last month revealed Ukraine had received at least 30 Bushmasters, but not the 90 promised this year. Vice Admiral David Johnston confirmed Senator Van's own estimates of numbers were broadly correct, though he withheld exact figures.

"It's largely to preserve the operational security of military equipment moving into Ukraine," Vice Admiral Johnston told senate estimates. Sending Bushmasters to Ukraine is complicated, Defence's acting strategy and policy secretary Hugh Jeffrey said at the same meeting. Only a small number of the armoured vehicles can fit in a C-17 aircraft at a time and sending them by ship would be no quicker, he said. Australia has been working on flights but Defence's limited airlift resources are also being used in Australia and the Indo-Pacific region, Mr. Jeffrey said.

Senator Van this week suggested that where there was a political will, there was a way. The Liberal Senator said the Morrison government oversaw the first delivery of Bushmasters to Ukraine within weeks of being asked. A Defence spokesperson would not comment on the dates of any upcoming deliveries but said it was working with partners to deliver help "as soon as practicable". It is unclear whether Defence or the government would sign off on a new build contract with Thales but Major General Andrew Bottrell last month said he had met with the manufacturer's chief executive.

"We're very acutely aware of Thales' workforce and trying to keep that at a point where it continues to be viable for the future," he said. Labor member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters has previously warned Australia might have to backfill Bushmaster if the war dragged on. Senator Van agrees. “I know Thales has a skilled workforce there and I’d hate it if that was not used for defence purposes”, he said.

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