The United States would benefit from reframing the way it employs forces globally to remain relevant in great power competition, particularly in light of persistent competition with China. Partnerships set the conditions for mutual operational success. The Australian and U.S. alliance, in particular, can offer both countries relative advantage by increasing training and operational opportunities in pursuit of shared security objectives.
In July 2020, civilian leaders from both nations’ diplomatic corps and militaries came together at the Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) 2020 to discuss complementary concerns and interests. The result was a clear articulation of the areas in which little daylight exists between the two. Specifically, participants reaffirmed that China cannot assert maritime claims in the South China Sea (SCS) “based on the ‘nine-dash line,’ ‘historic rights,’ or entire South China Sea island groups, which are incompatible with the Unite
Australia to Spend $2 Billion on Abrams Tanks, Helicopters From US
The U.S. State Department will soon sign-off a US$2 billion arms deal to the Australian government for 160 new Abrams tanks and four Chinook helicopters.
The sale comes amid Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s pledge last year to increase defence spending in response to rising geopolitical tension in the Indo-Pacific region.
Australia will purchase 160 M1A1 tank hulls and convert them into different vehicles, including 75 M1A2 Main Battle Tank; 29 M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles; 18 M1074 Joint Assault Bridges; and 6 M88A2 Hercules Combat Recovery Vehicles.
The cost of the tanks will be US$1.685 billion.
Hypersonic and directed-energy weapons: Who has them, and who’s winning the race in the Asia-Pacific? Mike Yeo, Nigel Pittaway, Usman Ansari, Vivek Raghuvanshi and Chris Martin
March 15
Photo credit: Imaginima/Getty Images MELBOURNE, Australia, ISLAMABAD, NEW DELHI, and WASHINGTON A number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region are caught up in the global hypersonic and directed-energy weapons race, with these regional powers having either developed or publicly stated intentions to develop such technology. Defense News has contacted regional government and military officials, businesses, and analysts to find out who is keeping pace in the worldwide contest.
China
Chinese military vehicles carry DF-17 ballistic missiles during a parade in Beijing on Oct. 1, 2019. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)
Department of Defence
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price has stressed the ongoing importance of defence industrial base cooperation between Australia and the United Kingdom during key talks with her UK counterpart.
Minister Price spoke with UK Minister for Defence Procurement Jeremy Quin MP last night and said the discussion reinforced the depth of the relationship between the two countries when it came to defence matters.
“Australia’s 2020 Defence Strategic Update and Force Structure Plan and the UK’s ongoing reviews of national defence policies highlight the importance of like-minded cooperation on shared defence industry challenges and opportunities,” Minister Price said.
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