Australia and Norway ink $540M missile contract, new factory by 2027
Australia announced the signing of an agreement with Norwegian company Kongsberg. The contract, valued at $540 million, involves state-of-the-art long-range missiles. This is another step to strengthen Australia's military capability amid the growing arms race in the Pacific.
During a press conference in Newcastle, Australian Defence Minister Pat Conroy announced that a factory will be built at the city’s airport in collaboration with the renowned Norwegian corporation. Production is expected to begin by 2027.
Australia is spending more on armaments
The new factory will produce Joint Strike Missiles (JSM), which will be delivered to the Australian Armed Forces and for export. Conroy emphasized that it will be one of only two facilities capable of manufacturing this type of missile.
JSM missiles are adapted to be carried by modern American F-35A fighter jets. The Australian facility is expected to produce up to 100 such missiles annually. Each missile measures approximately 4 metres in length and can strike both surface targets and land targets.
In response to the growing influence of China in the Pacific, Australia has significantly boosted its military capabilities. In collaboration with the United States, it is developing a hypersonic missile program and will begin production of guided missiles in the coming year.
F-35A in Australia
About 2,000 U.S. Marine soldiers spend six months a year in Australia. The country already has two squadrons of F-35A fighters, one in Williamstown near Newcastle and another at a base in Katherine in the Northern Territory. The latter has been modernized by the U.S. to accommodate American bombers.
The F-35A is a supersonic multi-role fighter jet built with stealth technology. It belongs to the CTOL class (Conventional Take-off and Landing), which means it is an aircraft with a conventional take-off and landing method. It measures 16 metres in length and has a wingspan of 11 metres. It can operate at altitudes up to 15,000 metres and carry more than 12,000 kilograms of weaponry.
In the Indo-Pacific region, Japan and South Korea also possess these American fighter squadrons.
