Reuters

SYDNEY: Australia will make a second billion-dollar payment to boost US nuclear submarine shipyards soon, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said in Washington on Tuesday, ahead of an official visit by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese next week. The AUKUS agreement to transfer nuclear-powered submarines to Australia is being reviewed by the Pentagon, although Australia has expressed confidence the deal, which also includes Britain, will proceed. In its first phase, Australia has pledged $3 billion to boost US submarine production rates, to later allow the sale of three Virginia-class submarines to Canberra, with a 2025 deadline for the first $2 billion. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve made a billion dollars. The plan is to provide another billion dollars shortly,&rdquo; Conroy told reporters in Washington, where he said he is meeting with Trump administration and defence industry officials. Albanese will travel to Washington next week for an official visit and his first formal meeting with US President Donald Trump, with the AUKUS defence partnership expected to be a focus of talks. Defence Minister Richard Marles told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday that Australia was contributing to a Pentagon review of AUKUS and had &ldquo;a sense of when this will conclude,&rdquo; without disclosing the timing. Australia is shifting to a model of defence co-development and co-production with the United States, including for the manufacture of guided weapons, and Albanese would highlight this to Trump, Conroy said. Australia expects to manufacture up to 4,000 Lockheed Martin guided missiles annually from a new factory to begin production by the end of the year, including supplying US&nbsp;defence needs, he said in a television interview with Sky News Australia. Australia is also working with the United States and Lockheed Martin to develop a longer-range Precision Strike Missile reaching &ldquo;in excess of a thousand kilometres,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;This is one example of us shifting to a co-design, co-development, co-production, co-sustainment model where we work in partnership with the United States and deepen the industrial base of both countries,&rdquo; he said.

Australasia

Australia will make a second billion-dollar payment to boost US nuclear submarine shipyards soon, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said in Washington on Tuesday, ahead of an official visit by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese next week.

Australia to make next billion-dollar AUKUS payment 'shortly', says minister

Europe

Sweden will invest 3.5 billion Swedish crowns ($367.11 million) in more anti-drone systems, its defence minister said on Friday, citing a growing threat posed by aerial violations.

Articles tagged with "Defence"

Australia to make next billion-dollar AUKUS payment 'shortly', says minister

Sweden to invest $370 million in anti-drone systems