Australia to buy long-range missiles
August 26, 2004 - 9:23AM
Australia would spend between $350 million and $450 million on new long-range missiles, Defence Minister Robert Hill said today.
Senator Hill said the Australian Defence Force's F/A-18 and AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft would be equipped with missiles capable of destroying land and sea targets.
Senator Hill said the new weapons would be introduced into service between 2007 and 2009 with Defence to advise the government of its preferred weapon next year.
"The new weapon will significantly enhance the ADF's air strike capability, providing a long-range, accurate and lethal attack against a range of targets including fixed and re-locatable targets on land and sea," Senator Hill said in a statement.
"Combined with the new air-to-air missiles and upgraded precision-guided bombs, Australia's fighter jets will be the regions most lethal capacity for air combat and strike operations.
Senator Hill said the government would choose between three long-range air-to-surface missiles.
The three options include the Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile (JASSM) manufactured by Lockheed Martin, a variant of the precision-attack cruise missile KEPD 350 manufactured by the European company Taurus Systems GmbH and the Stand-off Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) manufactured by American-based Boeing.
- AAP
Missiles won't spark arms race: Hill
August 26, 2004 - 7:20PM
Australia's air force will be equipped with advanced cruise missiles in a move Indonesia warns could spark a regional arms race.
Defence Minister Robert Hill announced today the government had approved a short list of three missiles with the winner to be announced next year and enter service between 2007 and 2009.
The Hornet fighter-bombers and Orion maritime patrol aircraft will be equipped with the missiles at a cost of up to $450 million.
The move is intended to maintain the Royal Australian Air Force's strike capability between the planned retirement of the F-111 strike bombers in 2010 and introduction to service of the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter around mid-decade.
Senator Hill said the new weapons would enhance Australian Defence Force air strike capability, providing a long-range, accurate and lethal attack against a range of targets on land and sea.
"Combined with the new air-to-air missiles and upgraded precision-guided bombs, Australia's fighter jets will be the region's most lethal capacity for air combat and strike operations," he said.
The missile short list comprises the Lockheed Martin Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile (JASSM) with a range of 400 kilometres, the 250 kilometre range Boeing Stand-off Land Attack Missile - Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) and the European Taurus Systems KEPD 350 with a range of 350 kilometres.
But there are fears the move will upset Australia's regional neighbours, with Indonesia warning Australia risked sparking a regional arms race.
"You cannot arm yourselves to the teeth and expect that will lead of itself to a sense of security. You have to work with the region to share in a sense of security," Indonesia's chief foreign affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa said.
"It's a qualitative advance for the region. We know Australia's government has until now been against the proliferation of advanced missile technologies in the region.
"There is a risk that raising the level of sophistication could lead to some kind of a counter response."
He said it would have been better if the government had explained the move in advance, providing more transparency on the reasons.
But the government rejected suggestions the missiles would fuel a regional arms race and said the move would not come as a surprise to Indonesia.
"They expect us to continue to evolve our capability as new opportunities in terms of science and technology present. The acquisition of stand-off missiles is a logical step in that direction," Senator Hill said.
"In the same way as Indonesia and all our regional neighbours continue to build their capabilities, they expect Australia to do so."
Senator Hill rejected suggestions that this would fuel a regional arms race. "No likelihood at all," he said.
Prime Minister John Howard said acquiring cruise missiles was a wise move given the F-111 phase out and Australia's neighbours would understand the decision.
"We have good relationships with our neighbours," he said. "Our regional neighbours will understand why we have done this."
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia was in the process of briefing its neighbours, particularly Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
"They are not likely to be too concerned about it because all countries in the region continually upgrade and improve the operation of their military equipment."
Opposition Leader Mark Latham said Labor did not object to the missiles, but urged the government to explain the defence move properly in the region.
The Australian Democrats accused the government of antagonising regional countries with leader Andrew Bartlett describing it as a diplomatic disaster.
- AAP
Out of curiosity, does anyone know if, say, Indonesia lets us know when & why they are buying SU-30's??