Reznikov calls on Australia to provide Ukraine with Hawkei armored vehicles

The Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov has appealed to Australia with a request to supply the Ukrainian Army with Hawkei armored vehicles.

A video of the appeal was shared on Twitter by the Head of the Defense Ministry.

He also called on Sydney to join the international tank coalition aimed at strengthening the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The Minister recalled that Australia had already given significant military support to Ukraine.

Dear Australian friends,

Throughout history you have repeatedly proven that Australians are a nation of freedom-loving warriors who always stand up to a bully.

You are 15 thousand kilometers away, yet we are very close in our shared values and readiness to defend them.

That's… pic.twitter.com/SXeQ77dH1C

— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) May 28, 2023

He noted that in the first months of the Russian full-scale invasion, Australia provided “the most assistance to Ukraine among non-NATO countries”.

“Your Bushmaster (armored vehicles) were incredible in real combat. But our struggle for global freedom is not over, and we still need your support,” Reznikov wrote.

The Minister of Defense appealed to Australia to join the international tank coalition for Ukraine.

“In addition to tanks, we would have the honor of getting Australian Hawkie,” the Minister wrote.

Reznikov noted that the armored vehicles could be invaluable help for Ukrainian troops during the counteroffensive against the Russian invaders.

Hawkei armored vehicles are produced by the Australian company Thales Australia. The vehicle was created under the requirements of the Australian Army under the Project Land 121 Phase 4 – Protected Mobility Vehicle – Light program, which provided for the creation of a light armored vehicle for general purpose.

The kerb mass of Hawkei is almost 7 tons, and its combat weight reaches 10 tons. The vehicle has an independent suspension Axle Tech 3000. With a six-cylinder diesel engine with a capacity of 268 hp, the armored vehicle can develop a speed of up to 130 km/h on the highway, while a 200 liter tank provides a range of 600 km. Depending on the configuration, the vehicle can accommodate up to 4-6 people. Steel hull provides armor protection at STANAG 4569 Level 1.

The main armament of the Hawkei armored vehicle is a 12.7mm machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher, or a remotely controlled combat module with similar weapons.