Australia says US missile purchase shows commitment to defence spending

SYDNEY: Australia said its A$2 billion ($1.3 billion) purchase of supersonic missiles from the United States underscores its commitment to defence spending, though Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has resisted U.S. calls to agree to a target of 3.5%.

Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy on Thursday confirmed the purchase of AIM-120C-8 and AIM-120D-3 missiles, developed by American defence company Raytheon Technologies.

They will be used by Australia's F/A-18 and F-35 fighter jets and a new army brigade focused on striking aerial targets up to 500 kilometres away, he added.

Albanese, who is yet to meet President Donald Trump, has rebuffed a U.S. request to agree to lift long-term defence spending to 3.5% of gross domestic product. It's forecast to rise to 2.3% by 2033.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who met with her U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio on Tuesday in Washington, said Australia took a "capability approach" and had already committed to the largest peacetime increase in defence funding.

"I know there will be more capability required, I think we all understand that, and we will fund the capability Australia needs," she said on Thursday in a television interview with Sky News Australia.

Albanese's scheduled meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the G7 was cancelled when Trump left the summit early due to tensions between Israel and Iran.

Wong said the security allies were working to reschedule a leaders' meeting.

Seeking to respond to China's build-up of its military, Albanese pledged A$74 billion ($47 billion) last year to buy missiles from Europe and the U.S., including A$21 billion to establish a Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise in Australia.

The sale of 400 missiles to Australia through the U.S. foreign military sales program was notified to the U.S. Congress in April. A further $2 billion proposed sale of U.S. electronic warfare systems and equipment for Australia's F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18 Growler fighter jets was notified in June.