United to win: Australia sends Ukraine demining equipment and anti-drone systems
Australia is providing Ukraine with anti-drone systems and a metal 3D printer as part of a new $12 million military aid package.
"Australia remains steadfast in supporting Ukraine to defend itself against Russia's illegal and immoral invasion," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, the West Australian reports.
As the Australian government official noted, the new aid package will provide Ukraine with some of the best technical capabilities in its field in the world "while investing in Australia's sovereign defense industry and technology sector."
The list includes demining equipment, portable X-ray machines, 3D metal printers, and anti-drone systems. All package components were manufactured by Australian companies DroneShield, Micro-X, Minelab, and SPEE3D.
The Australian government also sent an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force to Germany to support efforts to protect the gateway of international humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine.
The deployment fulfills Australia's commitments ahead of Albanese's visit to a NATO summit in Lithuania in July, officials said.
"3D metal printers can be used to print spare parts while de-mining and portable X-Ray equipment can provide life-saving assistance for Ukrainian personnel on the battlefield," Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy said.
What we know about military aid from Australia
Since the beginning of Russian aggression, Australia has provided Ukraine with 20,000 ammunition, 70 M113AS4 armored personnel carriers, 20 Bushmaster light armored vehicles, 14 Switchblade Strike Drones, 30,000 Javelin anti-tank missiles, and more.
Rubryka reported that the Australian company SPEE3D has already sent seven WarpSPEE3D metal 3D printers to rapidly produce critical spare parts for various military equipment.
Australia also trained Ukrainian soldiers under the British INTERFLEX program, by which the Ukrainian military is trained to the British Royal Armed Forces standards.
Australia also provides Ukraine with cardboard drones that deliver ammunition and conduct reconnaissance to the front line. It also handed about a hundred remote weapon systems (RWS) worth up to $80 million.
