Australia Considers Buying Israeli Missiles to Build Air Defense

Australia is considering purchasing interceptor missiles developed for Israel's Iron Dome system, in an effort to rapidly build a missile defense system, officials said on Thursday.

Military officials told a parliamentary committee that Australia aims to possess a missile defense system by the "early 2030s," citing the accelerating changes in the nature of warfare as seen in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Australia is currently holding discussions to assess the availability of the American Patriot system, or the interceptor missiles used in the Iron Dome system, which were developed by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and produced in cooperation with Raytheon.

Marine forces had previously tested medium-range interceptor missiles launched from trucks on Guam Island in the Pacific during regional military exercises that also involved Australia.

Australia does not supply weapons to Israel, and its potential purchase of Israeli defense products has sparked political scrutiny.

Australian government minister Murray Watt told the committee, "The government will always seek to provide the most suitable military technology."

For his part, Air Marshal Robert Chipman stated that the defense establishment would present its recommendations to the government next year following a competitive selection process linked to the "Talisman Sabre" exercises scheduled for 2027.

The parliamentary committee also heard reports indicating an increase in drone incursions into Australian military bases, with the number of incidents rising from 19 in 2022 to 204 last year.

Celia Perkins, Deputy Minister of Defense, said, "We are very concerned, and we are trying to distinguish between the actions of reckless teenagers and more serious threats."

She added, "There is a noticeable increase in drone activity."