‘Offer on the table’: Australian army helicopters set to aid fight against Putin

Ukraine is in talks about receiving a batch of Australian military helicopters to help defend against Russian aggression as the Albanese government attempts to make amends for the much-criticised decision to dispose of the army’s Taipan helicopters instead of sending them to the battlefield.

The government is preparing this week to announce its first new package of military support for Ukraine in over a year as frantic negotiations continue between Ukrainian, American, Russian and European officials to end the four-year-long conflict.

As part of the support package, the government is expected to pledge around $50 million to a NATO program that buys American-made weapons for Ukraine.

Australia and New Zealand are set to become the first non-NATO nations to contribute to the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List scheme, which provides Ukraine with air defence, precision-guided missiles and other munitions.

Separately, high-level discussions have been under way about the transfer of retiring armed reconnaissance Tiger helicopters from Australia to Ukraine. If the details are finalised, this would be the first donation of military aircraft from Australia to Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion in early 2022.

“The offer’s on the table and Ukraine wants them. Now it’s about logistics,” a source familiar with the negotiations said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

The Australian-Ukrainian community was infuriated last year when the Australian Defence Force dismantled and buried its fleet of MRH-90 Taipan helicopters instead of donating them to Ukraine as requested.

Ukrainian advocates have also urged the government to crack down on loopholes that have allowed significant quantities of Russian-origin oil to enter Australia, a challenge highlighted by this masthead’s “Blood Oil” series.

The issue is expected to be canvassed with Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials this week.

The army describes the two-seat Tiger aircraft as “one of the most advanced armed reconnaissance helicopters in the world”, calling it “fast and agile with the ability to detect and engage targets at long ranges”.

Airbus, the European defence firm that makes the helicopters, describes the Tiger as “ideal for armed reconnaissance, air or ground escort, air-to-air combat, ground fire support, destruction, and anti-tank warfare”.

Defence Minister Richard Marles told parliament last week that the government would “very shortly” be announcing its next tranche of support for Ukraine, adding to the $1.5 billion in total assistance already announced.

“Over the course of the last four years, the people of Ukraine have been absolutely inspirational and the Albanese government and the Australian people will stand by them for as long as it takes,” he said.

The Albanese government has not announced the donation of any military hardware to Ukraine since October 2024, when it revealed it would send 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks to the battlefield.

After entering service in 2004, the army’s fleet of 22 Tiger helicopters are scheduled to be fully withdrawn by 2028, although this timeline could be accelerated.

The first two of the army’s new fleet of 29 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, which will replace the Tiger fleet, arrived in Australia from the United States in October, and more deliveries are scheduled next year.

Former army chief Peter Leahy applauded the idea of providing Tiger helicopters to Ukraine, describing them as “nimble” aircraft that can be used for surveillance, reconnaissance, battlefield transport and medical evacuations.

“Ukraine needs help, and any extra firepower we can give them will be gratefully received,” said Leahy, who led the army from 2002 to 2008.

“The Tigers are well-known in Europe and I’m sure other nations who operate them will provide support.”

Ukraine would still appreciate and make good use of the helicopters, even if a peace deal is struck with Russia, he said.

Leahy said it was a “controversial and strange” decision for the ADF to dispose of the fleet of Taipan helicopters last year despite passionate pleas for them to be sent to Ukraine.

Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, stated in June 2024 that the Ukrainian military would be interested in acquiring Australia’s Tiger helicopters as they go out of service.

A report last year by the cross-party Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade called for the government to urgently direct the Department of Defence to develop plans to provide Ukraine with the retiring Tiger helicopters and other military equipment.

Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations chairwoman Kateryna Argyrou recently told this masthead that the Ukrainian-Australian community was distraught by the year-long gap between military assistance packages.

“It breaks our hearts that there has been such a long delay in providing substantial assistance,” she said. “Australia must act decisively, keeping pace with its allies, and ensure Ukraine is not forgotten.”

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