BLUF
Smart sea mines can discriminate between military targets and other shipping. Can blockade foreign ports—the high technology, relatively low cost, ‘smart ‘deterrent weapons will protect Australian ports, trade routes and communication lines.Summary
Seth Robson writing in Stars and Stripes, makes the following points:
- Cost of up to $698 million to buy "a substantial number" of European-made mines.
- Able to be deployed by ship, submarine or air.
- Should protect the maritime approaches to northern Australia and passageways in the Western Pacific.
- Part of a comprehensive approach includes missile defence and cyber security.
References
Recent Runway Posts related to this topic:
References from the Web:
- JAN 2023 Australia to fast-track purchase of high-tech sea mines to protect ports, trade routes-ABC News
- JAN 2023 Australia buys ‘potent and powerful’ sea mines to deter China-SMH