Australia buys US$1.1 billion of US missiles amid Aukus and ‘arms race’ concerns
- Australia’s purchase of 200 Tomahawks means it will be one of only three nations to own the missiles, which have a range of 1,500km
- The acquisition is backed by a defence review which recommended Australia adopt a strategy that would prevent adversaries from reaching its shores
Australia has acquired A$1.7 billion (US$1.1 billion) of missiles from the United States, as domestic concerns about its purchase of nuclear-powered submarines under the Aukus alliance with the US and Britain continue to simmer.
Defence minister Richard Marles and defence industry minister Pat Conroy said the acquisition was backed by the nation’s latest defence review in April, which recommended Canberra adopt a strategy that would prevent an adversary from reaching Australian shores, such as building long-range missile capabilities.
It also comes after Foreign Minister Penny Wong was quizzed during a local interview on Sunday on whether Australia was in an arms race with China and viewed Beijing as a threat, although Wong did not want to be drawn into the discussion.
On Monday, Canberra announced it was buying from the US about 200 Tomahawk cruise missiles for A$1.3 billion and 60 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles for A$431 million.
Australia will be one of three nations to own Tomahawks along with the US and Britain. The missiles have a range of 1,500km.
These purchases are on top of the A$368 billion earmarked for the Aukus nuclear-powered submarines over 30 years.
“With the acquisition of these formidable long-range strike missiles, the Albanese government is acting with pace to deliver on the recommendations of the Defence Strategic Review,” Marles said. “We are investing in the capabilities our Defence Force needs to hold our adversaries at risk further from our shores and keep Australians safe in the complex and uncertain world in which we live today.”
“The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the importance of having not just war stocks, but [also] a domestic missile manufacturing industry, and this announcement will help deliver that.”