Australia Delivers M1A1 Abrams Tanks to Ukraine in $160 Million Military Aid Package

Australia announced on Saturday that it has delivered M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as part of a A$245 million (US$160 million) defense aid package aimed at supporting Kyiv in its ongoing war against Russia.

The tanks are part of Australia’s broader A$1.5 billion (US$980 million) commitment to Ukraine, making it one of the largest non-NATO contributors to the war effort since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed that Ukraine has already received the majority of the 49 U.S.-made tanks pledged by Canberra, with the remainder expected to arrive in the coming months.

“These M1A1 Abrams tanks will make a significant contribution to Ukraine’s ongoing fight against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion,” Marles said in a statement.

In addition to military hardware, Australia has also supplied ammunition and other defense equipment, and has imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow. These include a ban on exports of alumina and aluminum ores — including bauxite — to Russia, and sanctions targeting around 1,000 Russian individuals and entities.

Earlier this year, Australia’s center-left Labor government formally labeled Russia as the aggressor in the conflict and emphasized that any resolution must be based on Ukraine’s terms.