John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

In September last year I tasked the Chief of the Defence Force to develop options to deploy the best currently available counter-rocket artillery and mortar system as a matter of the highest priority. Of course, such a system is vital given the ongoing threat from insurgent rocket attacks. I can confirm that the government has approved acquisition of this capability with funding in the budget. It will provide a sense and warn capability which detects projectiles in flight and warns our forces of incoming threat. Elements of the system should be in place by the end of 2010, with subsequent progressive delivery of improved levels of protection.