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Reference News reported on August 24 Australia on Thursday announced a 511 million euro agreement with a Norwegian group to manufacture Naval Strike Missiles and Joint Strike Missiles on Australian territory from now until 2027 to strengthen Australia's military capabilities amid an arms race in the Pacific, AFP reported on August 22.

"This is about investing in our advanced manufacturing and growing our sovereign defence industrial base," said Australia's Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy.

He said the missile would be used by the Australian Defence Force and would also be available for export.

“There is huge global demand and global supply chains are constrained. So building them here is not only cost competitive, but it actually enables the missiles to be delivered much faster than if they were reliant on overseas production lines,” Conroy told a news conference in Newcastle. “There are also huge export opportunities for these missiles.”

Construction will begin this year on a factory north of Sydney that will be able to produce up to 100 Joint Strike Missiles a year by 2027, an official told AFP. The missiles can be fitted to US F-35A fighter jets.

The Joint Strike Missile is an attack missile that can be carried in the weapons bay of the F-35 fighter. Australia has two squadrons of F-35 stealth fighters, stationed at Williamtown near Newcastle and at Tyndall Royal Air Force Base in northern Australia, which is being upgraded by the United States to accommodate the U.S.bomber。

The missiles will be produced by the Norwegian state-owned company Kongsberg, which designs not only missiles but also air defense systems and rotating turrets for military vehicles.

Conroy said the Marines are using Naval Strike Missiles to equip land-based trucks with anti-ship capabilities.

“We will not only be able to maintain and update our missiles, but we will also be able to provide that to U.S. forces that may be deployed in the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.

In recent years, Australia has gradually strengthened its military strength and formed the Australia-UK-US alliance with the United Kingdom and the United States.

On August 12, the three countries signed an agreement authorizing the exchange of information and equipment related to the propulsion systems of naval nuclear-powered submarines. According to the Australia-UK-US alliance treaty concluded in September 2021, Australia will have a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines from 2040.

Australia is also working with the United States to developHypersonicmissiles, and will begin manufacturing guided missiles with the United States next year. (Compiled by Lin Xiaoxuan)