Vince Connelly (Stirling, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Our Indo-Pacific region is in the midst of the most significant strategic realignment since World War II. Australia must be able to deploy military power to shape our environment, deter actions against our interests and respond, when required, with military force. To do so, we require new military capabilities, and maritime strike missiles will form a crucial element of our defence capability.

I was grateful to have been hosted last week by defence industry participant Kongsberg and their Australian defence general manager, John Fry—a fellow ex-Australian Army officer. John briefed me on the capabilities of their naval strike missile, or NSM. Where NSM excels is in the important attribute of survivability. Its ability to fly very low and its stealth capabilities help it to avoid detection. NSM have become the maritime strike weapon of choice for many of Australia's allies around the world. Because of its survivability, precision and lethality, it has been contracted by the Norwegian, Malaysian, German, Polish and Romanian navies, as well as the United States Marine Corps.

Kongsberg had previously been selected to provide missiles to Australia, both antiship and surface-to-air missiles. And I feel sure that, as we look to select particular capabilities and platforms, the NSM will be an attractive option as we look to continue to meet Australia's defence needs into the future.