Australia has reached a deal with the United States for the supply of 75 M1A2 Abrams tanks and other armored vehicles worth $3.5 billion, Report informs citing The Hill.
The US administration tentatively approved the deal last year and is expected to be confirmed later Monday by Australian Defense Secretary Peter Dutton.
In total, Australia will commit to buying over 120 pieces of equipment. In addition to tanks, 29 explosive-clearing assault breacher vehicles, 17 assault bridge vehicles, and six additional armored recovery vehicles. The first deliveries of the equipment under the deal should take place in 2024.
It is planned that in the coming years Australia will spend $30-42 billion on armored vehicles.
The newspaper notes that this deal is another evidence of the strengthening of the military alliance between the United States and Australia in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China. Last year, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom announced a new trilateral security partnership - AUKUS: the first major initiative under the partnership was the announcement of the construction of nuclear submarines for Australia.