US plan to fire from Australian ships

Australian and US foreign and defence ministers will start ­negotiations next week which could lead to American commanders being able to fire missiles directly from Australian ships.

This would happen as part of an integrated effort on defence against ballistic missiles, which will be discussed in full at Tuesday’s Australia US Ministerial (AUSMIN) talks in Sydney.

In 2016 the first of three Australian air warfare destroyers, HMAS Hobart, will come into service. The three will be fitted with the powerful Aegis missile defence system.

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