Australia will step up efforts to manufacture missiles for the United States and expand military cooperation and training under a plan announced Saturday (July 29th) by officials from both countries. As part of this project, Australia will notably develop guided multiple-launch rocket systems.
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The war in Ukraine revealed the need to produce military equipment in mass, ie to have sufficient stocks, but also to be able to produce in large capacity. This is today the enormous advantage of China compared to the rest of the world.
The war in Ukraine has also strained military supply chains in the United States, gradually depleting inventories of missiles and other ammunition.
The United States therefore needs not only to increase production rates for its own use, but also to ensure that its partners and allies also have sufficient industrial capacities. For Australia, the interest of increasing its capacities fits perfectly into the Aukus partnership – the tripartite military cooperation agreement between Washington, Canberra and London.
Tensions with China
Australia also wants to increase its industrial skills on defense issues, the aim being to increase its production capacities well upstream of a potential conflict with China in the Pacific. Because Washington and its allies are trying to limit Beijing’s growing influence in the regionsource of tensions with many states.
As part of this, Canberra is currently revamping its own armed forces, moving towards long-range strike capabilities.
For new missiles, Washington has agreed to speed up licensing: Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles told the press ” hope that missile manufacturing will begin in Australia within two years, as part of a collective industrial base between our two countries. »
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin traveled to Brisbane for the announcement, which followed talks with Mr Marles and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
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Rehabilitation of military bases in the North for rotations of American troops
The Australian government recently earmarked $2.7 billion for the acquisition of long-range strike missiles, which would bolster Australian stockpiles and could be exported to the United States or other countries, such as Ukraine. .
Canberra has also agreed to rehabilitate military bases in the north of the country, a strategically located region, so that they can house training exercises and allow more frequent rotations of American troops.
” We have made significant progress on US force posture initiatives “said Richard Marles Marles. Australia will also host a higher pace tours of nuclear-powered nuclear submarines, according to Australia’s defense minister.
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