The government is considering whether to offload retiring Tiger helicopters to Kyiv. (Supplied: ADF)
In short:
The federal government is considering passing along its fleet of retiring Tiger helicopters to Ukraine, as the United States works to broker a peace deal in Moscow.
It is expected a significant funding boost from Canberra to Ukraine's war effort is imminent.
What's next?
If Canberra decides to send Tiger helicopters to Kyiv, it is understood it would be separate to the pending funding injection.
The Albanese government is weighing a Ukrainian request for military helicopters as it prepares to unveil another support package for Kyiv in its fight against Russia.
As the United States attempts to broker a peace deal at the Kremlin in Moscow, it is expected a significant funding boost from Canberra to aid Ukraine's war efforts is imminent.
It comes as the government considers whether to offload retiring Tiger helicopters to Kyiv a year after Australia's Ukrainian community was angered by the Australian Defence Force's decision to dismantle and bury its MRH-90 Taipan helicopter fleet.
The Taipans had been grounded and taken apart following a fatal crash in July, 2023, that claimed the lives of four soldiers.
Attention has since turned to the ADF's European-built Tiger helicopters, which are in the process of being retired as Australia transitions to the US-made Apache fleet.
A total of 29 Apache aircraft are scheduled for delivery, with the final helicopters expected to arrive by 2029.
Australia has not committed any new military hardware to Ukraine since October, 2024, when the government confirmed it would supply 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks.
The army's fleet of 22 Tiger helicopters, which entered service in 2004, is due to be fully withdrawn by 2028, though defence officials have indicated the timetable could be brought forward.
The transition is already underway, with the first two AH-64E Apache attack helicopters arriving from the United States in October, and further deliveries planned for next year.
Defence Minister Richard Marles told parliament last week the government would "very shortly" announce its next round of assistance to Ukraine, building on the $1.5 billion in support already pledged.
"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.
Sources told the ABC that if Canberra decided to send Tiger helicopters to Kyiv, it would be separate to the pending funding injection.