The defence industry minister of Australia announced on Friday that the country will be investing an additional A$400 million ($260 million) to produce next-generation military drones locally. This is part of a greater effort to create more jobs through domestically manufactured projects.
One of the specific projects to receive this funding is the MQ-28A Ghost Bat, which is being developed in collaboration with a subsidiary of U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing. The Ghost Bat is designed to have a wide range of capabilities, including combat functions.
Defence industry minister Pat Conroy highlighted the significance of the Ghost Bat project, stating that it is the first military aircraft to be designed, engineered, and manufactured in Australia in over 50 years. This showcases the level of innovation and expertise present in the country’s defence industry.
Prior to this additional funding, the government had already spent A$600 million to acquire 10 of the drones. The decision to prioritize domestic manufacturing of defence systems is linked to the job creation potential of projects like the AUKUS military alliance with the United States and Britain, which involve significant costs.
The funding for the Ghost Bat project is expected to support over 350 jobs across Australia and provide ongoing work for more than 200 suppliers, according to the government’s statement. This highlights the broader economic impact and benefits of investing in domestic defence capabilities.
The conversion rate of USD to Australian dollars is 1.5399, as mentioned in the report filed by Alasdair Pal from Sydney. The article has been edited by Gerry Doyle.
