Australia Boosts Missile Defence in Response to Regional Threats

Australia to bolster missile defense and long-range strike capabilities as the Asia Pacific region enters the ‘missile age’.

In response to rising tensions in the Asia Pacific, Australia is set to enhance its missile defense capabilities, particularly following China’s recent test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the South Pacific, which has sparked “significant concerns” among regional allies and defense experts.

As part of this strategic pivot, Australia will focus on increasing its missile defense and long-range strike capabilities, working closely alongside key security partners, including the United States, Japan, and South Korea, to address pressing issues of regional stability, Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy announced during a pivotal speech delivered on Wednesday.

“Why do we need more missiles? The dynamic of strategic competition between the United States and China is shaping a primary aspect of Australia’s security landscape,” Conroy articulated to the audience gathered at the National Press Club in Canberra.

“This competition is most pronounced in our region, the Indo-Pacific,” he emphasized, underlining the stakes involved.

According to Conroy, the Indo-Pacific is on the verge of a new missile age, characterized by an increased reliance on missiles as instruments of coercion rather than mere defensive tools.

He highlighted the significance of the ICBM test conducted by China in September, which demonstrated a range exceeding 11,000 kilometers (6,835 miles) and landed in the Pacific Ocean, northeast of Australia, raising alarms about regional security norms.

“We expressed significant concern about that ballistic missile test, particularly its implications for the South Pacific, which is governed by the Treaty of Rarotonga that designates the area as a nuclear weapons-free zone,” he stated emphatically when asked by reporters about the incident.

In line with its defense strategy, Australia intends to deploy SM-6 missiles across its navy destroyer fleet, significantly enhancing its ballistic missile defense capabilities.

Amid escalating tensions, Australia is joining several Asia Pacific nations that are dramatically ramping up their defense spending to secure their sovereignty and interests.

In April, Australia introduced a comprehensive defense strategy that foresees a substantial increase in funding aimed at shielding against potential adversaries who may attempt to disrupt crucial trade routes or challenge access to vital air and sea pathways.

Apart from rapidly advancing its surface fleet, Australia also plans to implement stealthy nuclear-powered submarines as part of its strategic partnership with the United States and the United Kingdom, encapsulated in the trilateral agreement known as AUKUS.

Defence Minister Richard Marles remarked that Australia is laying out its “blueprint” for swift missile manufacturing at home, coupled with the integration of long-range strike capabilities for the defense forces.

Earlier this month, Australia confirmed a landmark deal with the United States worth 7 billion Australian dollars ($4.58 billion) for the acquisition of SM-2 IIIC and Raytheon SM-6 long-range missiles to enhance naval capabilities.

“We must demonstrate to potential adversaries that any hostile actions against Australia would be met with resolute resistance and could not be sustained over an extended conflict,” Conroy asserted during his address.

“In a world characterized by supply-chain disruptions and strategic vulnerabilities, Australia not only needs to procure more missiles but also to develop its own production capabilities domestically,” he articulated.

As part of this strategic thrust, Australia will invest 316 million Australian dollars ($206 million) to establish local manufacturing for Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) in collaboration with Lockheed Martin. This initiative aims to produce these rapidly deployable surface-to-surface weapons for export beginning in 2029, with the factory projected to produce 4,000 GMLRS units annually, representing a quarter of current global output, Conroy disclosed.

Defence Minister Marles added that the GMLRS manufacturing facility will also possess the capacity to produce a diverse range of weapons and provide critical production support to trusted allies both regionally and internationally.

In an effort to enhance artillery capabilities, France’s Thales will set up manufacturing operations for 155mm M795 artillery ammunition, used in howitzers, within an Australian government-owned munitions facility located in the small Victorian city of Benalla. This will mark the first dedicated forge established outside the United States, with production slated to begin in 2028 and the potential to ramp up to 100,000 rounds per year.

In August, Australia announced its partnership with Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to jointly manufacture long-range Naval Strike Missiles and Joint Strike Missiles in the city of Newcastle, on Australia’s eastern coast, representing the first manufacturing site for these weapons outside Norway.