Under its ongoing rearmament drive, Japan has joined hands with Australia to test hypersonic missiles and co-develop a laser system.
As China continues its aggression in the Indo-Pacific, Japan and Australia have joined hands to make new missiles and a laser system.
Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles announced on Tuesday that Japan will conduct tests of hypersonic missiles and other projectiles in Australia as the two countries deepened military cooperation.
They also announced that Japan and Australia will co-develop a laser system to detect potential threats under a new defence cooperation project named ‘Boobook’ — the project is named after an Australian owl that sees in the dark. Marles said that the project includes “enhanced laser capability that can be put on land combat platforms as well as littoral platforms”.
Koizumi described the understanding as “groundbreaking”.
“If the Japan Self-Defense Forces are able to conduct test launches of standoff missiles, such as hypersonic missiles, in Australia, it would be a groundbreaking development. We will therefore accelerate discussions toward realising this objective,” said Koizumi.
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The developments come as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan has doubled down on efforts to expand weapons production, deepen regional partnerships, and increase defence spending to prepare for security challenges amid American withdrawal from Indo-Pacific. Over the past year, China has stepped up provocations in the Indo-Pacific and has frequently needled Japan, Australia, and the Philippines.
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As US President Donald Trump has withdrawn military assets from the region, marginalised Quad, and put Aukus on the backburner, as part of a reproachment with China, middle powers across the Indo-Pacific have begun converging to tackle the threat from China and manage the vacuum left behind by the American withdrawal. Under such a realignment, India, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines have ramped up engagement over the past year.
This is the second major announcement that Australia and Japan have made lately. Last year, Australia signed a $6 billion deal to acquire at least three warships from Japan over the next decade. The partnership is expected to deepen over time, with the vessels initially being built in Japan before the programme expands to include co-development and co-production in Australia.
Australia plans to deploy these warships for missions like anti-submarine warfare and surface and air defence to safeguard critical maritime trade routes and its northern approaches across the Indian and Pacific oceans where China is steadily expanding its military presence.