Australia and the United States have agreed to commence co-manufacturing guided weapons starting next year. This initiative aims to enhance the supply of weapons for allies in the Indo-Pacific region and expand the US military presence in Australia. Specifically, the two nations are already collaborating to upgrade air bases in northern and western Australia, which are strategically positioned closer to potential areas of tension with China in the South China Sea compared to Australia’s capital city of Canberra. Following the annual AUSMIN talks in Annapolis, Maryland, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced an increase in the presence of rotational US forces in Australia, as reported by Reuters.
“This will mean more maritime patrol aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft operating from bases across northern Australia. It will also mean more frequent rotational bomber deployments,” Austin said. In opening remarks Austin said the two allies faced shared security challenges including “coercive behaviour” by China.
A joint statement released after the AUSMIN talks expressed concern over Chinese military activity around Taiwan, and China’s excessive maritime claims in the South China Sea. They “noted grave concern about China’s dangerous and escalatory behaviour toward Philippine vessels lawfully operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone”.
There are no US military bases in Australia, but the northern city of Darwin hosts a US Marine Rotational Force six months of each year and the US is building facilities for its marines and visiting air squadrons within Australian bases.
Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles said the presence of United States forces in Australia contributed to deterrence in the Indo Pacific region, and there would be closer collaboration on guided weapons manufacture in Australia.
Australia will begin co-manufacturing guided missiles next year, including the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) used in Ukraine. Australia is also testing a Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) with the United States, which Australia said it will consider fielding as its first hypersonic weapon for fighter jets, the joint statement said.
“The presence of American force posture in our nation provides an enormous opportunity to work with our neighbours in the region,” Marles said.
Japan would increase exercises with US Marines in Darwin, while Australia and the US would hold regular exercises in the Philippines exclusive economic zone, the statement said.
The statement mentioned Australia’s strategic Indian Ocean territory, Cocos Islands, for the first time, saying the United States welcomed Australia’s planned infrastructure upgrades there and supported Australia’s completion of this work.
The Cocos Islands, with a population of 600, sits 3,000 km west of the Australian mainland and is described by the Australian Defence Force as key to its maritime surveillance operations in the Indian Ocean, where China is increasing submarine activity.
Australia has announced plans to begin constructing an upgraded airfield on the island this year. The airfield will be able to accommodate heavier military aircraft, including the P-8A Poseidon used for submarine hunting. Justin Bassi, the executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, emphasized the importance of the joint statement’s unequivocal recognition of Beijing’s threat and its support for the Philippines.
Team BharatShakti (With inputs from Reuters)
