The United States will bolster its arms stockpile by helping Australia build a missile manufacturing industry, officials from both countries said Saturday (July 29th). “We expect missile manufacturing to begin in Australia within two years, as part of a collective industrial base between our two countries,” Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles told reporters.
“We are very pleased with the steps we are taking towards establishing a guided weapons and explosive ordnance business in this country,” he added. Australia will develop Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS).
As part of the announcement, which followed discussions with Mr. Marles and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin visited in Brisbane on Saturday.
Nascent industry
This collaboration will allow Australia to develop its nascent domestic missile industry and ensure a reliable supply chain for the US armed forces in the future.
It comes in the context of the war in Ukraine, which has strained military supply chains in the United States, gradually reducing its stocks of missiles and other ammunition.
Australia is currently overhauling its own armed forces, moving towards long-range strike capabilities to keep potential enemies such as China at bay.
Canberra has also agreed to rehabilitate strategically important military bases in the north of the country so that they can host training exercises and allow for increased rotations of American troops. “We have made significant progress on US force posture initiatives,” Mr. Marles said.
On the day of this announcement, Australia had to suspend the major military operation “Talisman Saber”, conducted with the United States, following the crash of an army helicopter whose four crew members are missing. . Japan, France, Germany and South Korea also participate in these large-scale military maneuvers. A total of 30,000 soldiers are involved.
