Australian fighter jets will be armed with long-range strike missiles years earlier than expected as part of a major $3.5b military upgrade.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton will on Tuesday announce the accelerated acquisition of improved weapons, with a focus on sovereign-guided weapons enterprise.
Mr xjmtzywDutton will say that the accelerated military upgrade, as well as the weapons enterprise, is imperative given the complex and challenging strategic environment on Australia’s doorstep in the Indo-Pacific.
Under the plan, Australia’s Super Hornets, and in future the F-35A Lightning II, will be armed with JASSM-ER missiles capable of engaging targets at a range of up to 900km by 2024, three years ahead of schedule.
From the same year, Hobart-class destroyers and Anzac frigates will be equipped with new Norwegian-made Naval Strike Missiles.
Mr Dutton says this will be a significant enhancement to Australia’s maritime strike capability years ahead of schedule.
“These world-class strike weapon systems will equip our forces to better protect Australia’s maritime approaches and when necessary, contribute to coalition operations in our region,” Mr Dutton said.
Under the sovereign guided weapons enterprise, US defence giants Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Australia will work to “rapidly increase” Australia’s ability to maintain and manufacture guided weapons.
They will also work to provide an alternative for the US missile supply chain.
Three local partners – the Australian Missile Corporation, the Sovereign Missile Alliance and Aurecon Advisory – will support Raytheon and Lockheed Martin to develop the sovereign missile industry.
“Australia’s strategic environment is becoming more complex and challenging, the Indo-Pacific now sits at the epicentre of global strategic competition,” Mr Dutton said.
“It is imperative that we work closely with like-minded countries and industry partners to develop a more capable military force to defend Australia.
“We know we need to work closely with our partners to bolster our self-reliance and this is another major step in delivering that sovereign capability here in Australia.”
