Fed: Australia to join US missile defence program

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2003
Fed: Australia to join US missile defence program

The federal government says Australia has agreed to participate in the United States
missile defence program.

Defence Minister ROBERT HILL says the US has invited Australia to join the program,
along with unspecified other nations.

He says the government is looking at a long timeframe, but doesn't envisage a ground-based
missile defence system on Australian territory.

But it will involve assisting with research, and could involve incorporating a missile
defence system into three planned air warfare destroyers for the Australian navy.

Senator HILL says Australia's part will be small in terms of the massive overall program.

He says the government thinks that with the proliferation of long range missiles and
trends towards proliferation of mass destruction warheads, it's is a sensible decision
to take.

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KEYWORD: MISSILE (CANBERRA)

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