Television Interview, Sky News

SUBJECTS: Visit to US; Joint Statement of Intent with US on co-production of missiles; AUKUS; US relationship

KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: I caught up with the Defence Industry Minister, Pat Conroy. He's already in Washington D.C. I began by asking him if his visit was laying the groundwork ahead of Mr Albanese.

MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY, THE HON PAT CONROY MP: My trip here has been long scheduled, well in advance of the meeting that had been arranged between President Trump and Prime Minister Albanese. We have regular engagements in the United States, as you’d expect, given they're our closest ally and indispensable partner. And my trip this week is focused on meeting senior Trump Administration officials, congressional leaders and US defence industry representatives to talk about how we deepen industrial cooperation, work on equipping the Australian Defence Force and growing jobs in our economy.

KIERAN GILBERT: This is obviously good timing, though, ahead of the Prime Minister's visit to the White House. And today you've announced this Statement of Intent between the Department of War, our Defence Department and Lockheed Martin on guided weapons. Can you tell our viewers how soon will there be a co-production of guided weapons systems between our nations under this, this Statement of Intent signed today?

MINISTER CONROY: Well, we'll begin manufacturing missiles in Australia by the end of this year. So, in answer to your question, very quickly, and that's in a staged process where we will then begin production, or construction rather, of the Australian missile weapons complex. And the goal is to have a missile factory that can produce up to 4,000 missiles, in this case, guided multiple launch rocket system missiles that are being used in Ukraine right now. And that 4,000 number is in excess of what we need for our own stockpiles. So, the plan will be to produce missiles that could then go and support the needs of the US or other partners. There's a global backlog of production of missiles as people ramp up production in response to the strategic circumstances. So, this is about making Australia safer by equipping the Australian Army with long-range strike, but also contributing to allies and partners around the world.

KIERAN GILBERT: And when you say we'll be constructing and starting to produce our own guided weapons systems by the end of this year, is that part of that co-production piece with the United States or is that our own independent sovereign production?

MINISTER CONROY: Well, the initial missiles will be for our own use, but then, we are at the same time, building a factory that will have the scale of producing up to 4,000 missiles. We're also building a second factory in partnership with Kongsberg Defence Australia to produce naval strike missiles and joint strike missiles and that will be located near Williamtown in NSW. And again, that's another example of where we are producing a factory with scale more than we need at the moment to contribute to global supply chain. So, we'll have two factories that will have scale, more than we need, so that we can support….

KIERAN GILBERT: But is that all within, is it when you say co-production, is it all just, you know, forgive my ignorance on this, is this all a co-production with the US which is Australian alone? Which do we do as part of our alliance and which do we do in conjunction with Lockheed Martin for example?

MINISTER CONROY: Well, that's in response or relating to the (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) GMLRS production that I talked about and, potentially, the precision strike missile further down the line. That's where the Statement of Intent today goes to. So, the plan is that we begin manufacturing missiles for Australia's need by the end of the year, while we build a bigger factory that can not just satisfy our demand, but also contribute to supply in the United States. So, it's a two-stage process as we establish missile manufacturing in this country.

KIERAN GILBERT: How many missiles will we have and what sort of range will they have? 

MINISTER CONROY: Well, the GMLRS missile is the first missile we'll be producing. We typically will need hundreds each year, but we'll produce building a factory that has a scale or capacity of up to 4,000. That missile has a range of just under 100 kilometres. The public figure is around 80 kilometres. So, that doubles the range of the Australian Army, whose range at the moment is 40 kilometres. We're also introducing into service the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). And we had the first test firing of an Australian PrSM missile this year, two years ahead of schedule. And we've had our first PrSM delivered one year ahead of schedule and that range is 500 kilometres, and the next increment of PrSM will have a range of 1,000 kilometres. So, that's a massive step up in long range strike for the Australian army compared to the 40 kilometres we've had previously. And the plan is that we would also have the option of producing PrSM missiles in Australia as well. We're starting with GMLRS, which is a simpler missile, but still very effective, and then we would move on to the Precision Strike Missile later on.

KIERAN GILBERT. So, when obviously we're talking about the missiles, our co-production and co-investment, it's timely, given Department of War and this Secretary and the President, Donald Trump himself, have been calling for other countries to spend more. The Prime Minister can take this to the White House. I know you're saying, it's sort of, this was all done separately, but this is the sort of message he can take to the President, say look, we are pulling our weight.

MINISTER CONROY: Oh absolutely. This is an example of us adding value to the Alliance, us investing not just only in our needs but the needs of our indispensable Ally, the United States. This is one example of us shifting to a co-design, co-development, co-production, co-sustainment model, where we work in partnership with the United States and deepen the industrial base of both countries. I'll give you another example. Last year, a US Navy Romeo helicopter underwent deep level maintenance at our Navy helicopter facility at Nowra. That was, it received identical maintenance than if it had gone back to the continental United States. So, that's another example of us mobilising the Australian industrial base to support the needs of the United States. That adds jobs to us and it adds flexibility and depth to the United States. These are all examples that obviously Prime Minister Albanese has at his disposal when he meets with President Trump.

KIERAN GILBERT: Finally, is there a reassurance? Have you been given reassurance about AUKUS? Is it on a firm footing ahead of the White House meeting?

MINISTER CONROY: Well, it's important not to prejudge the US review. We undertook a review, as did the Starmer Government, when they came into power. But, in all my meetings with the US system, they've understood the importance of AUKUS, how it's in the interests of all three countries. There's a lot of enthusiasm. Well, I don't want to get ahead of it and prejudge the review - that would be disrespectful to the outcomes - but I'm convinced it's in the national interest of all three countries and I'm confident that any assessment would reflect that conclusion.

KIERAN GILBERT: And you said there's enthusiasm towards it among the Congressional people you've spoken to?

MINISTER CONROY: Oh, absolutely. I don't want to prejudge the review, but when I engage with Congressional leaders, both Republican and Democrat, they've been strong and staunch supporters of AUKUS from day one. It received an 80 per cent yes vote in the US Senate, and so I'm confident there's strong Congressional support for AUKUS, because it's in the national interest of the United States, as it is of Australia, and the United Kingdom.

KIERAN GILBERT: Well, that is at least encouraging ahead of Mr Albanese's visit there. Thank you for joining us, from Washington - Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy. Thanks.

MINISTER CONROY: Thanks, Kieran. Have a great day.

ENDS