Australia quietly cancels plans to buy reconnaissance drones used by China and Russia under a $1 billion Navy project controversially approved just days before last year's election by then defence minister Peter Dutton.
abc.net.au/news/labor-scraps-peter-dutton-approved-drone-deal/102875788Australia has quietly cancelled plans to buy reconnaissance drones used by China and Russia under a $1 billion Navy project controversially approved just days before last year's election by then defence minister Peter Dutton.
Other options shortlisted by Defence for the lucrative SEA 129 Phase 5 project included vehicles from Textron Systems, Insitu Pacific, BAE Systems and Leonardo, before the S-100 technology was chosen under a sole source acquisition. Under the $1.3 billion project, the Navy had planned to acquire three blocks of unarmed maritime drones over coming decades, with each subsequent block delivering greater capability than its predecessor.the ABC reported the new Albanese government was contemplating scrapping the proposed S-100 purchase
The unarmed helicopter drone, which was chosen over US and British rivals, is also made under licence by Russia and has been purchased by China for use on its guided missile destroyers. "After the Defence Strategic Review , the decision was made to re-evaluate the overall surface combatants strategy for the RAN. Further official information from the RAN is expected.
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