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Australia to build guided missiles to boost defense capacity

The Associated Press

Australia will begin building its own guided missiles in close collaboration with the United States as it seeks to boost its defense capabilities.

The announcement comes amid growing unease in the Indo-Pacific region about the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) increasing assertiveness and military capabilities.

Citing the “changing global environment,” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, pictured, said the nation would partner with a weapons manufacturer to build the missiles and create thousands of jobs as well as export opportunities.

Morrison said the government would initially spend AUD $1 billion (U.S. $761 million) on the plan as part of a 10-year investment in defense and the defense industry.

“Creating our own sovereign capability on Australian soil is essential to keep Australians safe,” Morrison said in late March 2021.

It has been decades since Australia manufactured advanced missiles, and it relies on imports from allies including the U.S. Australia currently builds a decoy rocket aimed at disrupting incoming missiles.

Michael Shoebridge, the director of defense, strategy and national security at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), said the announcement filled a strategic gap.

“It’s being driven by the two Cs, China and COVID,” Shoebridge said.

He said the PRC’s increasing aggression is a big concern for Australia, as is the vulnerability of global supply chains that have been exposed by the coronavirus pandemic.

He said Australia’s most pressing need is long-range anti-ship missiles that can be fired from warships or aircraft. He said new Army fighting vehicles also need missile capabilities.

Shoebridge said it would make sense for Australia to build a new generation of hypersonic missiles in collaboration with the U.S. He said potential commercial partners include large U.S. weapons manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, although other manufacturers might be involved in developing specific systems, for instance, propulsion.

Australia and the U.S. are part of an intelligence alliance that also includes Britain, Canada and New Zealand.

“We will work closely with the United States on this important initiative to ensure that we understand how our enterprise can best support both Australia’s needs and the growing needs of our most important military partner,” Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton said.

Dutton said building weapons in Australia would not only enhance the nation’s capabilities but also ensure sufficient supply for combat operations in the event of global supply chain disruptions.

The ASPI, an independent think tank, has estimated that Australia would need to spend AUD $100 billion over the next 20 years on missiles and guided weapons. Shoebridge said the domestically built missiles would provide a deterrent during the current decade while Australia waits for a series of frigates and attack-class submarines to be built.

He said Australia would need lots of missiles quickly in the event of conflict and can’t rely on importing them. He said such a scenario is possible, for instance, if Beijing seeks to take control of Taiwan by force.

Shoebridge said the announcement also fit with the U.S. strategy of dispersing its forces and capabilities to avoid vulnerability  in key locations.

IMAGE CREDIT: AFP/GETTY IMAGES

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