Australia Secures $4.7 Billion Missile Deal with US

Australia has agreed to a $7 billion (USD 4.7 billion) deal to acquire advanced medium and long-range missiles from the United States, namely the Standard Missile 2 Block IIIC (SM-2 IIIC) and Standard Missile-6 (SM-6). This acquisition, announced by Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy during a visit to Washington, aims to bolster Australia's naval defense amid escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly due to China's increasingly assertive tactics. The missiles will be deployed on Australia's Hobart-class destroyers and future Hunter-class frigates, enhancing the Navy's capability to strike various targets and provide ballistic missile defense. This move aligns with Australia's strategic shift towards enhancing its deterrence capabilities and follows a recent defense review highlighting the region's complex geopolitical climate. The purchase is part of a broader strategy to increase Australia's long-range strike capacity and safeguard national interests as global military dynamics evolve. Australia's defense posture is increasingly focused on deterring potential adversaries and protecting against missile threats, drawing lessons from global conflicts such as the war in Ukraine.