Ukraine needs our Hawkeis now. It’s embarrassing we’ve made them wait so long

Western nations came to the aid of his country when Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky famously said, “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride”. And Australia was at the forefront, providing arms and money. Regrettably, we seem unable to organise delivery of a much-needed light, armoured four-wheel drive to help Ukraine fight the Russians.

Addressing the Lowy Institute on Tuesday Defence Force Chief General Angus Campbell noted how Zelensky’s words had galvanised his nation and given them the will to resist, sacrifice and endure. But they also needed capability.

To this end, the Ukrainians have been asking Australia for 30 Hawkei vehicles for months but not one has been sent. Reportedly this is because the army is not keen on dispatching them to war until it had signed off on their suitability, and because the Albanese government has denied repeated requests.

Australia so far has provided Ukraine with more than $655 million in support, including $510 million in military assistance. Last April, less than two months after Russia invaded, Australia sent the first of 60 Bushmasters requested by Ukraine. By September 40 vehicles had been delivered. That same month, the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko urged the Albanese government to rapidly provide more military support to Ukraine. He said he would like Australia to provide a supply of anti-ship missiles known as Harpoons, as well as the additional Bushmasters, 30 Hawkei four-wheel drives and howitzer long-range weapons he has already requested.

Seven months later and another 20 Bushmasters have been dispatched but the Hawkeis have still to materialise. They can, however, be seen tooling around the streets of Bendigo in central Victoria, where they are being manufactured and tested by French company Thales. They are part of a $1.3 billion contract to produce 1100 Hawkeis to replace the Land Rovers used by the Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force.

The Hawkei is a snake that name checks the late prime minister Bob Hawke – Acanthophis Hawkei – and is found in the Barkly Tablelands on the Northern Territory-Queensland border.

Thales also manufactures the 12.5 tonne Bushmaster defence vehicles in Bendigo, which are combat vehicles with blast and ballistic protection that are used in seven countries around the world.

Thales started laying off workers as the Hawkei contact neared its end, and although some vehicles have been supplied to the ADF, there have been reports the final Hawkei will come off the production line in June this year, and that the rollout has been delayed because of brake issues.