Australia and the United States need to increase industrial cooperation to better prepare for evolving threats in the Indo-Pacific region, a senior Australian defense official said on Monday.
Australia’s Under-Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Policy and Industry Hugh Jeffrey praised the US assessment that the military-industrial structure developed during the Cold War was inadequate for today’s challenges.
Jeffrey said that in some areas of military innovation, “Russia and China are outpacing the United States and its allies.” “Our ability to co-innovate, co-invest and co-produce [defence technology] Today decides who will win tomorrow’s battle for military supremacy.
“My view is that there is consensus on both sides of the Pacific on this issue, and things need to change,” Jeffrey said, adding that Oakes would play a pivotal role.
The partnership, announced in 2021, will give Australia’s defense industry the ability to build nuclear-powered submarines and replace diesel-powered vessels. The strategy is widely seen as an attempt to thwart Chinese naval advances in the region, particularly in the South China Sea.
Australia wants Japanese ‘cutting edge’ technology for Oaks, but that’s not all yet
Australia wants Japanese ‘cutting edge’ technology for Oaks, but that’s not all yet
Under the NDAA, the Department of Defense was formally authorized to transfer three Virginia-class submarines. The act also allows Australian contractors to train at US shipyards and adds a national exemption from US export control licensing requirements, as well as a way for Washington to strengthen its submarine industrial base. We have established a mechanism to accept funding from Canberra.
Both U.S. allies are implementing legal changes to achieve certification, but no final decisions have been made yet due to pressure from some lawmakers, researchers and local media.
For example, Australian academics have raised concerns with the government about the Defense Trade Controls Amendment Bill introduced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last year to comply with Washington regulations.
Many say the Prime Minister’s proposals would severely restrict information sharing with foreign researchers, including Australian ones, and put research collaboration at risk.
“[It] “There will be some uncertainty and doubt about how changes to Australia’s Defense Trade Control Framework will impact on Australia’s research collaborations with countries outside the Tripartite Agreement,” the Australian Academy of Science and Australia said. The Academy of Technical Sciences and Engineering writes. A joint statement was released in November.
Jeffrey acknowledged the concerns in his speech Tuesday, but stressed that the bill aims to expand post-licensing cooperation with other countries and facilitate the “responsible transfer of regulated goods and technology.” .
He also assured Canberra had no intention of restricting international students and academics from participating in research with Australian institutions.
“This bill aims to prevent sensitive defense articles and technology from being passed to foreign parties in a manner that could harm Australia’s interests (…) “We only want to manage what needs to be managed for the above reasons, and nothing else,” he said. He said.
Pentagon’s final bill features countering Taiwan, Oaks and Chinese influence
Pentagon’s final bill features countering Taiwan, Oaks and Chinese influence
Meanwhile, the Biden administration is awaiting approval of a $95 billion national security supplemental budget that includes $3.3 billion in Oaks funding.
The supplementary budget has already been approved by the Senate, but it still needs a vote in the House of Representatives.
In February, Bonnie Jenkins, the State Department’s assistant secretary for arms control, told a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing that funding for ambitious projects to expand and modernize the U.S. submarine industry is essential.
“We need to pass additional legislation.” [budget] Because everything here, including the Oaks, shows that America wants to continue to be a leader,” Jenkins said.