We’ve got some more information on the news the Albanese government is set to spend $1.3 billion buying 220 Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said Australia would be working closely with the US to get more missile capability.
“It’s a really important part of what we need to be doing with our posture, which is to have a greater ability to project,” he told Nine’s Today program on Friday.
“Making sure we have longer-range strike missiles is a really important capability for the country. It enables us to be able to reach out beyond our shores further and that’s ultimately how we are able to keep Australia safe.”
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the missiles were able to be fired from the US Virginia-class submarines Australia would be acquiring under the AUKUS deal.
“We certainly want the best possible capability for the Australian Defence Force so that includes the ability to strike opponents as far away as possible from the Australian mainland,” he told ABC TV.
“The cruise missiles are a critical part of that, as are the submarines that launch them.”
The announcement of the missiles follows criticism from former Labor prime minister Paul Keating about the submarine deal.