Australia inks MoU with the US to develop Precision Strike Missile
Australia also said it will spend $150 million AUD over the next five years to acquire an initial tranche of the PrSM system and munitions.
Australia also said it will spend $150 million AUD over the next five years to acquire an initial tranche of the PrSM system and munitions.
The new Bushmasters will provide C2 capabilities for the Kongsberg's Naval Strike Missile (NSM) or Lockheed Martin's Precision Strike Missile Increment 2, depending on a contract award expected by the end of this year.
“The Tomahawk is the jewel in the crown and a step change in our firepower, deterrence and ability to strike land-based targets at ranges never before available to the Royal Australian Navy," said Pat Conroy, Australia's minister for defense procurement.
"Producing GMLRS missiles in Australia is the stepping stone towards local production of more advanced, longer-range strike weapons in the future – local production that is essential to our sovereignty and our security," Minister of Defense Industry Pat Conroy said.
Speaking to Breaking Defense, defense procurement minister Pat Conroy said Australia is building in “scalability beyond our domestic need” to be able to help supply international customers for munitions production.
The factory will manufacture and service Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) and Joint Strike Missiles (JSM), the first non-Norwegian facility to do so.
Speaking to Breaking Defense, Pat Conroy, defense industry minster, pushed back on the idea the Boeing-made drone would be considered for ISR only.
The life extension program will bridge the gap between the retirement of the Collins-class and the arrival of the first American Virginia-class submarine.
Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy said Anduril's Ghost Shark is part of the Australian military's $5.2 billion to $7.2 billion investment in undersea uncrewed maritime systems.
“I won't go into details of the nature of that drone for security reasons,” Pat Conroy told reporters in Canberra. "But I want to assure everyone in this country that we are spending lots of time working on drones."
“The purchase of an additional Triton will enhance operations from Australia’s northern bases, a priority under the Defence Strategic Review," Pat Conroy, minister for defense industry, said in a statement.
"Not only does the Williamtown stealth-coating facility provide Australia with a valuable sovereign capability and cut down on cumbersome timelines for sustaining Australian F-35s in the United States, it will also serve as a second source of service for US aircraft in the region," analyst Ashley Townshend told Breaking Defense.
"Importantly, one of the first decisions of the Albanese Labor government after the Defense Strategic Review was to allocate $4.1 billion for long-range strike and missile manufacturing over the next four years," Pat Conroy, defense industry minister, said.
"They've got better electronic warfare self protection, they've got better performance and they've got stronger airframes," said defense procurement minister Pat Conroy about the C-130Js. "So, while it's got the same name, it's a better aircraft."