© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles attends a joint information convention with France’s International and Defence ministers on the Quai d’Orsay in Paris, France, January 30, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
By Renju Jose
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia will spend A$1.3 billion ($833 million) to spice up its long-range strike capabilities because it finalised on Monday a deal to purchase greater than 200 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US, a part of a wide-ranging defence shake-up.
Australia will likely be solely one among three nations to have Tomahawks together with the U.S. and Britain, Defence Minister Richard Marles mentioned.
“We’re investing within the capabilities our Defence Drive wants to carry our adversaries in danger farther from our shores and preserve Australians protected within the complicated and unsure world by which we dwell at present,” Marles mentioned in a press release.
The U.S. State Division in March authorized the sale of the Tomahawks, which have a variety of 1,500 kms (932 miles), however didn’t point out on the time {that a} contract had been signed or talks had concluded.
The ship-launched model of the missiles, manufactured by RTX Corp, will likely be deployed on the Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart-class destroyers, he mentioned.
Australia says it must improve its defence forces as China is enterprise the most important navy build-up for the reason that finish of World Struggle Two.
Earlier this 12 months it agreed to work with the US and Britain to develop a nuclear-powered submarine fleet.
Along with the Tomahawks, Australia would spend about A$431 million to buy greater than 60 superior anti-radiation guided missiles from the US, the defence minister mentioned.
Lengthy-range anti-tank guided missiles would even be purchased for Australian Military’s Boxer fight reconnaissance automobiles in a contract price greater than A$50 million.
The Tomahawk announcement got here days after the U.S. authorized a doable sale to Australia of M142 Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket Programs (HIMARS) for $975 million.
($1 = 1.5618 Australian {dollars})
