Australia has expressed its collaboration with Norway’s Kongsberg to develop the Production long distance naval strike missile and joint strike missile. In Australia, this is the only other place apart from Norway where there is a fortification in Newcastle on the east coast.
The Australian government will invest $850 million (about US$574m) towards working with Kongsberg to establish a manufacturing facility in the Newcastle Airport area later this year and have production commence by 2027.
His said that Australia’s Defense Force would use it as well as being export by US security partners. There are just two factories worldwide that can manufacture missiles, and one of them is outside of Kongsberg, Norway.
Australia will create a guided weapons manufacturing site as part of its defense. Overhaul aimed at enhancing the long-range precision strike capability of its defense force. When tensions in the Indo-Pacific region escalate, says Australia.
“Demand worldwide is vast while supply chains are tight,” he told reporters in Newcastle. “We therefore not only compete on price, but actually get the missile out faster than if we were relying on overseas production lines.” “Additionally, there are huge opportunities here for exports.”
He noted that the U.S. Marine Corps was outfitting land-based trucks with naval strike missiles to strengthen maritime attack capabilities.
He said: “Not only do we have our own ability now to maintain and refurbish our missiles. We could potentially do so for U.S. forces which may be deploy into the Indo-Pacific”.
Approximately 2000 U.S. marines spend six months every year on rotational deployment in northern Australia.
Only F-35 fighter jets can carry Joint Strike Missiles inside. Their weapon bay in any attack missile currently available across all air forces.
Currently there are two Australian-based squadrons – one at Williamtown near Newcastle and another at Royal Air Force Tyndall Base in northern Queensland being upgraded by America to house American bombers.
In the Indo-Pacific region, Japan, South Korea have F-35 squadrons as well as there being such in Singapore.
The US and Australia are also co-developing hypersonic missiles. While they will start joint production of guided missiles with America from next year. (1 USD=1.4815 AUD).
