United to win: Australia to provide Ukraine with 30 Bushmaster vehicles, Norway to send Black Hornet drones
Photo: wikipedia.org
Australia is providing Ukraine with a defense package of 30 Bushmaster armored personnel carriers, and Norway will additionally offer the Ukrainian Armed Forces 1,000 miniature drones.
Rubryka reports, referring to President Zelensky's Telegram and the statement by the Ministry of Defense of Norway.
What is the problem?
Ukrainian troops launched a counteroffensive in two directions of the front. Defenders need military equipment, drones, and ammunition to advance successfully.
The two-day NATO summit started in Vilnius on July 11. In the final communiqué of the summit, published on the Alliance website, the Heads of State and Government of the North Atlantic Alliance recognized Ukraine's progress on the path of Euro-Atlantic integration. They confirmed that Ukraine's future lies with NATO.
The final document of the NATO summit in Vilnius will not contain an invitation to Ukraine for membership negotiations. Still, it will provide for the possibility of such an invitation when the allies agree to it and when the conditions allow. In contrast, the countries of the Alliance expressed their support for Ukraine in terms of military support.
What is the solution?
At the NATO summit in Vilnius, the defense ministers of France and Ukraine signed an agreement increasing military aid to Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron announced on the first day of the NATO summit that France will supply Ukraine with long-range SCALP missiles, an analog of the British Storm Shadow.
Norway will increase the size of Ukraine's military aid fund this year by NOK 2.5 billion ($238.6 million). Its total value will increase to 10 billion ($960 million).
Also, Germany announced a new package of military aid for Kyiv, including air defense equipment, infantry fighting vehicles, shells, and UAVs, with a total cost of about 600 million.
In turn, Australia provides Ukraine with a defense package containing 30 Bushmaster armored personnel carriers, and Norway will additionally offer the Ukrainian Armed Forces 1,000 miniature drones.
How does it work?
"As always, we have a complete political understanding. It was a successful meeting," said the Ukrainian president, referring to talks Ukraine held with the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, on the sidelines of the NATO summit currently underway in Vilnius.
The Bushmaster IMV is an Australian four-wheel-drive armored personnel carrier. It was created for use in the desert areas of northern Australia. It can carry nine soldiers with food supplies (270 liters of water) and ammunition for three days of autonomous resistance.
Photo: wikimedia.org.
In the spring of 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine showed how Australian Bushmaster armored personnel carriers already serve Ukraine at the front.
Norway is also handing Ukraine 1,000 tiny Black Hornet drones for reconnaissance.
Photo: regjeringen.no
According to the statement, the drones are being transferred at the request of Ukraine.
"Ukraine is very satisfied with the performance of the previous reconnaissance drones of this type, developed in cooperation between the Norwegian Armed Forces and the Defense Research Institute… We are now handing over 1,000 new sets to Ukraine," Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram announced.
Developed in Norway, Teledyne FLIR's Black Hornet has gained widespread popularity and is in service with many allies, including the United States and Britain.
Weighing only 32 grams, these tiny drones are easy to control, well suited for reconnaissance and target detection, and convenient for being difficult to spot. Drones are especially well suited for combat in urban environments.
