Australia to provide boats as part of military aid for Ukraine

The Australian government will provide new high-speed rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) to the Ukrainian military as part of an aid package worth approximately AU$100 million (US$67 million).

Sentinel Boats of Tasmania will supply the RIBs, each of which will be of HDPE construction for greater durability and improved impact resistance even in harsh marine environments. The longevity of HDPE means operators will not have to purchase replacement boats as often compared to boats constructed using other material.

The RIBs can be used across a range of mission profiles including riverine operations and open-sea boardings.

Sentinel Boats CEO George McGuire said the boats can be rapidly deployed and require minimal maintenance, resulting in greater operational availability for Ukrainian forces.

The RIBs are under construction at Sentinel Boats' facilities in Hobart. These will be delivered to Ukraine in the coming months along with other support packages pledged by the Australian government.