SYDNEY: Australia unveiled a US$570 million deal to construct missiles domestically on Thursday (Aug 22), in a bid to beef up army capabilities amid a regional arms race.
Defence Business Minister Pat Conroy introduced a deal to develop naval and air-launched Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) at a plant north of Sydney.
The manufacturing unit will break floor later this yr, producing anti-ship cruise missiles and JSMs that may be fitted to state-of-the-art F-35A plane.
“That is about investing in our superior, high-tech manufacturing business and creating our sovereign defence industrial base,” mentioned Conroy.
A defence official informed AFP the manufacturing unit would start manufacturing in 2027 and can be able to producing 100 missiles a yr.
Each missiles had been developed by Norway’s Kongsberg.
Considerations about China’s huge defence spending and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have led many United States allies to voice concern a couple of shortfall in munition manufacturing capabilities.
Australia is amongst a number of Asia-Pacific nations dramatically rising defence spending.
Asian defence spending reached a file US$510 billion in 2023, in line with the Worldwide Institute for Strategic Research, a London-based suppose tank.
Australia has launched a string of formidable defence initiatives, together with the event of a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
