Australia and Canada have signed a $520 million deal to collaborate on research to enhance missile defence capabilities.
Australian Federal Defence Minister Richard Marles said the research would aim to understand emerging missile threats, as well as develop detection, monitoring, targeting and counter-measure technologies.
“As potential adversaries continue to develop more advanced missiles, including advanced cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons that combine high speed, increasing range, and manoeuvrability, new solutions are required to defeat these threats,” Minister Marles said.
“Under a new project arrangement, Canada and Australia commit to collaborative research and development in support of next generation defensive solutions to defeat these threats.”
He said said Canada and Australia would each contribute up to $260 million over five years.
“Canada and Australia enjoy a partnership based on shared history, values and friendship. We have a long history of working together on defence science and technology, including through Five Eyes Science and Technology, under the auspices of the Technical Co-operation Program, since 1965.
“This collaboration on integrated air and missile defence research and development is mutually beneficial, contributing directly to our shared objective of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.”
Minister Marles said missile defence had been identified by Australia as a capability investment priority in Australia’s National Defence Strategy and the Integrated Investment Program.
