The government has said it will invest $1 billion to commence the early development of advanced guided weapons.
It says the commitment will modernise the Navy’s platforms to project and maintain sea control.
This project will provide Navy with leading-edge long-range anti-ship missiles, extended range surface-to-air missiles, advanced light weight torpedoes, and maritime land strike capabilities with ranges in excess of 370 kilometres for anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles, and 1,500 kilometres for maritime land strike missiles.
Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said new investments would be made across the current and future submarine and surface combatant fleets, to provide the ADF with more options to protect Australia’s interests.
“These new capabilities will provide a strong, credible deterrent that will ensure stability and security in the region,” Minister Reynolds said.
“The planned acquisitions – when aligned with the ongoing state-of-the-art combat system development and National shipbuilding programs – represent an investment of up to $24 billion, which will build a lethal and highly responsive Navy for decades to come.
“The project also seeks opportunities to broaden Australia’s weapons manufacturing base."
As part of Sea 1300, Defence says it will continue its long-term investment and key contribution to the Evolved Sea Sparrow Block 2 missile program, and commence investment in developing the Standard Missile 2 Block IIIC and the Standard Missile 6 Block 1, to meet Australia’s surface-to-air missile capability requirements.
More on this story will be available in tomorrow's edition of Defence Week.