Latest news with #AIM-120D-3
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Australia says US missile purchase shows commitment to defence spending
FILE PHOTO: Erika Olson, Charge d'Affaires, for the United States Embassy in Australia with Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles, and Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy, at the Avalon Air Show, in Victoria, Australia March 24, 2025. Conroy has confirmed the purchase of AIM-120C-8 and AIM-120D-3 missiles, developed by American defence company Raytheon Technologies. - Reuters SYDNEY: Australia said its A$2 billion (US$1.3 billion) purchase of supersonic missiles from the United States underscores its commitment to defence spending, though Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has resisted US calls to agree to a target of 3.5 per cent. Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy on Thursday (July 3) confirmed the purchase of AIM-120C-8 and AIM-120D-3 missiles, developed by American defence company Raytheon Technologies. They will be used by Australia's F/A-18 and F-35 fighter jets and a new army brigade focused on striking aerial targets up to 500 kilometres away, he added. Albanese, who is yet to meet President Donald Trump, has rebuffed a US request to agree to lift long-term defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product. It's forecast to rise to 2.3 per cent by 2033. Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who met with her US counterpart Marco Rubio on Tuesday in Washington, said Australia took a "capability approach" and had already committed to the largest peacetime increase in defence funding. "I know there will be more capability required, I think we all understand that, and we will fund the capability Australia needs," she said on Thursday in a television interview with Sky News Australia. Albanese's scheduled meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the G7 was cancelled when Trump left the summit early due to tensions between Israel and Iran. Wong said the security allies were working to reschedule a leaders' meeting. Seeking to respond to China's build-up of its military, Albanese pledged A$74 billion (US$47 billion) last year to buy missiles from Europe and the US, including A$21 billion to establish a Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise in Australia. The sale of 400 missiles to Australia through the US foreign military sales programme was notified to the US Congress in April. A further US$2 billion proposed sale of US electronic warfare systems and equipment for Australia's F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18 Growler fighter jets was notified in June. - Reuters
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Chinese threat or American pressure? What really fueled Australia's 1.3 billion missile purchase
As China flexes its military muscle with live-fire drills near Australia and dual aircraft carrier exercises near Japan, Canberra responds with its wallet, confirming a $1.3 billion missile deal with the United States. The defence community is buzzing about whether this decision was due to a Chinese threat or US pressure that made the deal. Australia's Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy on Thursday, July 3, confirmed the deal to purchase two advanced variants of the AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile). Also Read: Mysterious interstellar object enters solar system; the largest, fastest, and only the third ever recorded by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now The US Congress was notified of the 400-missile sale earlier in April, while a separate $2 billion package for electronic warfare upgrades for Australia's EA-18 Growlers and F/A-18s was announced in June. Live Events Despite these purchases, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has so far resisted US demands to commit to a 3.5 per cent GDP defense spending target. Australian defense expenditure is projected to rise to 2.3 per cent of GDP by 2033. The Beijing effect On February 20 and 21, China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) conducted first ever live-fire exercises near the shores of Australia and New Zealand, which gave equal headaches for the defence establishments in Canberra and Wellington. The most threatening part for the Australian government was that these drills closely followed a Chinese fighter jet dropping flares near an Australian maritime aircraft over the South China Sea and Beijing's controversial agreements with the Cook Islands, which prompted objections from New Zealand. China's ever-increasing presence in the South Pacific has been widely interpreted as a pushback against growing Western naval activity. Just days earlier, two US warships, the USS Ralph Johnson and USNS Bowditch, passed through the Taiwan Strait, the first such transit since President Donald Trump's return to the White House. Also Read: Trump is killing American EV companies to benefit China; how Tesla is losing to BYD, SAIC and Geely Simultaneously, China has been conducting aggressive naval exercises in the Western Pacific too, with both of its aircraft carriers, the Shandong and the Liaoning, carrying out operations since late May. On June 7 and 8, Chinese fighters shadowed and crossed in front of Japanese planes for 40 to 80 minutes, prompting Tokyo to lodge a formal protest. What do AIM-120C-8 and AIM-120D-3 missiles include The AIM-120C-8 variant is optimized for long-range, beyond-visual-range engagements. It is intended for use with Australia's F/A-18 Super Hornets and F-35 stealth fighters, whose range can reach 160–180 km. This Supersonic, around Mach 4, missile can be designed to intercept fast-moving enemy aircraft, including stealth fighters. The AIM-120D-3 is an upgraded missile system that boasts enhanced electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) and a GPS-aided inertial navigation system for precise targeting. Improved kinematics and range will support a new long-range Army strike brigade capable of hitting targets up to 500 km away. Also Read: Why Australia is taking only 280 people a year from Tuvalu, even as one third want to flee The broader deal The purchase is part of a broader A$74 billion plan announced last year by the Albanese government to modernise missile and deterrent capabilities, including A$21 billion to set up a Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise in Australia. Observers note that China's escalating drills in the South Pacific and near Japan are speeding up the formation of a more robust Indo-Pacific security axis involving the U.S., Australia, Japan, and New Zealand.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Australia says US missile purchase shows commitment to defence spending
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Erika Olson, Charge d'Affaires, for the United States Embassy in Australia with Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles, and Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy, at the Avalon Air Show, in Victoria, Australia March 24, 2025. REUTERS/Kirsty Needham/File Photo SYDNEY - Australia said its A$2 billion ($1.3 billion) purchase of supersonic missiles from the United States underscores its commitment to defence spending, though Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has resisted U.S. calls to agree to a target of 3.5%. Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy on Thursday confirmed the purchase of AIM-120C-8 and AIM-120D-3 missiles, developed by American defence company Raytheon Technologies. They will be used by Australia's F/A-18 and F-35 fighter jets and a new army brigade focused on striking aerial targets up to 500 kilometres away, he added. Albanese, who is yet to meet President Donald Trump, has rebuffed a U.S. request to agree to lift long-term defence spending to 3.5% of gross domestic product. It's forecast to rise to 2.3% by 2033. Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who met with her U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio on Tuesday in Washington, said Australia took a "capability approach" and had already committed to the largest peacetime increase in defence funding. "I know there will be more capability required, I think we all understand that, and we will fund the capability Australia needs," she said on Thursday in a television interview with Sky News Australia. Albanese's scheduled meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the G7 was cancelled when Trump left the summit early due to tensions between Israel and Iran. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No train service across entire Bukit Panjang LRT line due to power fault Asia 4 dead, 38 missing after ferry sinks on way to Indonesia's Bali Singapore $500 in Child LifeSG credits, Edusave, Post-Sec Education Account top-ups to be disbursed in July Singapore Pedestrian-only path rules to be enforced reasonably; focus on errant cyclists: Baey Yam Keng Singapore 17-year-old youth charged with trespassing on MRT tracks; to be remanded at IMH Business Microsoft cutting 9,000 jobs companywide in second major wave of layoffs this year Asia Malaysian nurses following the money abroad for more opportunities World Trump tax Bill stalled by Republican rebellion in Congress Wong said the security allies were working to reschedule a leaders' meeting. Seeking to respond to China's build-up of its military, Albanese pledged A$74 billion ($47 billion) last year to buy missiles from Europe and the U.S., including A$21 billion to establish a Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise in Australia. The sale of 400 missiles to Australia through the U.S. foreign military sales program was notified to the U.S. Congress in April. A further $2 billion proposed sale of U.S. electronic warfare systems and equipment for Australia's F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18 Growler fighter jets was notified in June. REUTERS
