Australia is fast-tracking its $1 billion-purchase of high-tech sea mines to defend its marine territory from naval incursions by China and other possible threats, according to a report by Nine Newspapers.
A sea mine is a self-contained explosive device planted in the water that can destroy or render useless an enemy surface ship or submarine, such as the stockpile of 100,000 sea mines deployed by China as part of its military build-up.
During earlier conflicts, the weapons were used to protect vital harbors and waterways against invading naval forces.
A spokesperson for the Department of Defence told 9News, “Defence is accelerating the acquisition of smart sea mines, which will help to secure sea lines of communication and protect Australia’s maritime approaches. A modern sea mining capability is a significant deterrent to potential aggressors.
“The Australian Government continues to work to deliver the advanced capabilities Australia needs quickly and effectively.”
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Source: Royal Military Academy of Belgium, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, University of Portsmouth
The spokesperson claimed that the high-tech sea mines can tell between other ships from military maritime targets.
ABC also questioned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the purchase of sea mines.
He hinted that the soon-to-be-released armed forces assessment by former defence minister Stephen Smith and former ADF commander Angus Houston would turn to new military spending.
“What that’s aimed at doing is making sure that every single dollar that’s spent in defence is spent in the best possible way to support our national security,” Albanese said.
“So, for example, a shift from where we were perhaps focused on land conflict in areas that we might or we mightn’t need, perhaps, so many tanks or so many defence security issues like that.
“What we need is to make sure we have the best possible defences. So we have looked at missile defence, we’re looking at cyber security, we’re looking at all of these issues.”
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Source: 9News
Jaw de Guzman is the content producer for Comms Room, a knowledge platform and website aimed at assisting the communications industry and its professionals.
