Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/SYDNEY: To protect its maritime routes and ports from potential aggressors, Australia said it would accelerate plans to buy advanced sea mines on Monday.
A spokesperson in the defence department said in a statement that the so-called smart sea mines are designed to differentiate between regular ships and military targets.
The statement said that the purchase of smart sea mines is being accelerated by Australia, which will help protect Australia’s maritime approaches and secure sea lines of communication. Modern marine mining technology serves as an effective deterrent to potential attackers.
However, the defence department did not specify any further information. A report published in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on Monday said Canberra would spend up to $698 million (A$1 billion) to procure the high-tech underwater weapons.
Deal to purchase mines shortly
According to the article that cited unnamed defence industry insiders, the federal government will shortly announce a deal to purchase “a considerable number” of sea mines from a European weapons supplier.
According to ABC television, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would not “pre-empt such national security considerations. “We must make sure we have the most robust protection possible. Therefore, we have looked into missile defense, cyber security, and all of these challenges, “explained Albanese.
Over the past few years, Australia has been looking to boost its defense spending, including entering a deal signed in 2021 to buy nuclear submarines from Britain and the United States.
