Australia Announces Military Aid Package for Ukraine includes SHORAD Systems and MANPADS.

During a visit to Lviv on April 27, 2024, a city in Western Ukraine, following his attendance at Anzac Day ceremonies in Türkiye, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles announced that Australia would provide an additional $100 million in military aid to Ukraine. This support is aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defense capability with Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) systems and RBS-70 MANPADS.
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The three key components of the Australian Army’s SHORAD system included the RBS 70 missile launcher, Giraffe AMB radar, and the Tactical Command and Control System (Picture source: Saab )

Half of this amount, $50 million, will be allocated to providing SHORAD systems to the Ukrainian military, including man-portable air-defense systems RBS-70, valued at tens of millions of dollars. These MANPADS, currently being phased out by the Australian army in favor of the more advanced eNASAMS system, are a key component of this aid. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, during a press conference in Lviv, emphasized that Richard Marles's visit would have significant results for Ukraine's defense capability.

SHORAD systems are designed to provide ground-based air defense against low-altitude air threats such as helicopters, drones, and low-flying aircraft, typically covering a range of up to 25 kilometers. These systems are crucial for protecting fixed sites and mobile units against air-to-surface attacks and aerial surveillance within a limited area. SHORAD incorporates a variety of platforms, including man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), vehicle-mounted units, and static installations, equipped with radar and optical target tracking, guided missiles, or anti-aircraft artillery to intercept incoming threats.

The RBS-70 is a man-portable air-defense system developed by Sweden. It is a laser beam-riding missile system, meaning the missile follows the path of a laser beam aimed at the target until impact. This feature makes it immune to most electronic countermeasures. The RBS-70 is designed for short-range defense against a variety of aerial threats, including aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Its operational range is approximately 8 kilometers, with an altitude coverage of up to 5,000 meters. The system is known for its accuracy and the ability to engage targets at night and in adverse weather conditions, using an advanced sighting system enhanced with thermal imaging.

It remains uncertain how many RBS-70 systems will be sent and whether the donation includes any of the three Saab radars used by the Australian army. Additionally, it is not clear whether the RBS-70 donation constitutes the entirety of the $50 million SHORAD commitment.

The remainder of the aid package includes $32.5 million for purchasing drones through the "Drone Coalition," led by Latvia and the United Kingdom, as well as $15 million for various "high priority" equipment, such as helmets, boots, generators, firefighting equipment, and rigid hull inflatable boats. According to the Department of Defense, these supplies will be delivered with the support of the Australian defense industry.

Furthermore, during his visit, Marles publicly revealed that Australia had provided precision air-to-ground munitions to Ukraine, although he did not specify what type of munitions were provided. Ukraine has previously utilized JDAM-ER guided bombs, the wing kits for which are manufactured by Brisbane-based Ferra Engineering.

The Australian minister also acknowledged the protracted nature of the conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing that Australia will continue to provide support to help Ukraine prevail. This statement reaffirms Australia's commitment to supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary.

Defense News April 2024