Australia will allocate $12bn to buy nuclear-powered submarines, GMLRS, GMLRS-ER, ATACMS, PrSM missiles, MQ-28 drones and strengthen air defence

By: Maksim Panasovskiy | 24.04.2023, 21:41

The Australian government has received a commissioned Strategic Defence Review (DSR) and has identified areas for "immediate action". The authorities will allocate billions of dollars to achieve the targets.

Here's What We Know

We have already written that the authors of the DSR are former Defence Minister Stephen Smith and former Defence Force chief Angus Houston. They recommend eliminating the purchase of B-21 Raider nuclear bombers; equipping the F-35A Lightning II fighters with JSM and LRASM missiles, while upgrading the aircraft to Block 4; and focusing on the development of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat drones.

The 110-page report calls for fundamental changes to the structure of the Australian Defence Force to meet current and future threats. In doing so, some programs are to be cut or delayed.

In particular, Australia will order only 129 infantry fighting vehicles instead of the 450 units for which AU$25 billion ($17 billion) has been allocated under the Land 400 Phase 3 program. Canberra will also reject additional K9 Thunder self-propelled artillery units from South Korea's Hanwha.

In total, several priority areas for "immediate action" have been identified. AU$19 billion ($12 billion) will be allocated for these. Priorities for "immediate action" included the following items:

  • nuclear-powered submarines;
  • MQ-28 Ghost Bat drones;
  • naval drones for underwater and above-water reconnaissance;
  • an air defence system;
  • retention of a highly skilled workforce in the defence sector;
  • introducing "new breakthrough technologies" in collaboration with national industry;
  • strengthening relations with key partners in the Indo-Pacific region;
  • a network of bases in the north for logistical support and deterrence;
  • establishing ammunition production in Australia;
  • developing long-range precision strike capability.

Australia should accelerate the acquisition of the highly mobile M142 HIMARS artillery missile system. The purchase of 20 M142 HIMARS and ammunition worth $385 million was officially announced in January 2023, but it was revealed in February that the missile systems would not be delivered until 2025.

The Australian military will receive GMLRS, GMLRS-ER and ATACMS with a maximum launch range of 80km, 150km and 300km respectively. Australian Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles mentioned the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). This is a new missile for the M142 HIMARS that will enable the Army to engage enemy targets at a range of 500 km.

Finally, Australia will receive 220 Tomahawk cruise missiles. The US State Department approved the sale of 200 Block V and 20 Block IV missiles worth $985bn in March 2023.

Source: Australian Government | Defence