Hawkei – Australian military off-roader Ukraine could use

Mobility in warfare is crucial. As Ukraine is preparing for a large counteroffensive, it is looking into getting more protected quick vehicles. And the Australian Hawkei is definitely something they are looking into.

Australian Hawkei – protected military vehicle, capable of reaching speeds of 130 km/h. Image credit: Michał Derela via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Hawkei is a light (well, by military standards) 4×4, produced since 2016. It is protected, but it is not heavily armored. This means that it weighs 7-10 tonnes and can still reach a maximum speed of 130 km/h.

This car is made for various patrol operations, it can serve as a personnel transport (can take a crew of 4-6 troops), mobile command post, electronic warfare base, and can perform surveillance and intelligence gathering missions.

There are 4 and 2-door versions of this vehicle, and they can be kitted out in different ways. For example, it doesn’t take much to prepare the Hawkei for medevac missions, but it can also be used as a fighting platform.

An armed version of the Hawkei. Image credit: Michał Derela via Wikimedia, CC-BY-SA-4.0

At the moment, Australia is the only operator of the Hawkei. It is not surprising, since this vehicle was designed in 2010 specifically to meet Australian Defence Force requirements. In 2015 Australia signed a contract with the manufacturer Thales Australia to purchase 1,100 Hawkei vehicles. In 2021 around 260 of them have been delivered.

Ukraine has requested Australia to supply these vehicles for its defense effort. A quick assessment showed that Thales Australia has good manufacturing capabilities and Australia could quickly replace the cars that have been supplied to Ukraine.

Engine of a Hawkei utility variant. Image credit: Nick-D via Wikimedia, CC-BY-SA-4.0

Of course, these vehicles are left-hand-drive, but it is not the first time the defenders of Ukraine had to deal with it and it wouldn’t be a significant issue. But what are the chances the Hawkei is going to Ukraine?

Well, the Australian Associated Press has reported that the US and Australia are preparing a new military aid package for Ukraine. It should be announced at the end of May and should include drones, artillery systems, and, potentially, armored vehicles.

The Hawkei seems like a logical thing to send to Ukraine, because it is relatively inexpensive and is made locally in Australia. This means that investments made into the production of these vehicles would go to the Australian industry and the Australian people.

A Hawkei fitted with a radar. Image credit: Nick-D via Wikimedia, CC-BY-SA-4.0

Furthermore, Thales Australia might have a serious interest in showcasing the Hawkei in Europe. Poland has been interested in this platform since 2017. If these vehicles appear in Ukraine, maybe some other European nations might be interested in acquiring them.

The Hawkei is definitely not a game-changer for Ukraine. However, it is a useful asset to have. It has an Austrian Steyr engine, which is easy to maintain in Europe, and mounts for 12.7 mm machine guns and anti-tank missile launchers. This incredibly versatile model could give the defenders of Ukraine that extra bit of mobility and speed for future operations.

Written by Povilas M.

Sources: Defence-ua.com, Wikipedia

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