Australia, U.S. talk on missiles
SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Close allies Australia and the United States are continuing their talks on missile defense cooperation, concentrating on research and development, the Australian government said Thursday.
It said a team from the U.S. Defense Department was in Australia for a working level visit that followed the signing of a missile defense agreement in July last year.
That 25-year agreement, signed by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill, made Australia a participant in the U.S. missile defense program.
The controversial program, which seeks to shield against a possible missile attack, has tested interceptors which can track and hit a simulated incoming warhead in space, before it reaches the continental United States.
The 2004 Australia-U.S. agreement identified areas of cooperation including development of advanced radar technology for early warning of missile launches, and potential options for missile defense capabilities on new Australian warships.
The Australian Defense Department said Thursday this week's talks were "exploring possible areas of cooperation on missile defence, concentrating on research and development. The government will consider any proposals once they are fully developed."
One area of interest is likely to be further development of Australia's Jindalee over-the-horizon radar, which it uses to guard its northern coastline.
Australia is one of the strongest supporters of the United States in its war on terror and has backed Washington's military effforts by sending troops, ships and aircraft to Afghanistan and Iraq.
Under the administration of Prime Minister John Howard, Australia and the U.S. have developed extemely close militiary ties under the auspices of the ANZUS defense treaty created more than 50 years ago.
American and Australian troops regularly train together, and there are plans to test new fighting tactics and cutting-edge communications at a training facility in Australia.
Australia has also joined the U.S. Joint Strike Fighter program to develop a new-generation fighter aircraft.
