Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776136505580aboodi-vesakaran-DckgqapKwn4-unsplash (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Australia will boost spending on drones by up to Au$5 billion ($3.6 billion) in response to shifts in warfare seen in the Middle East, Defense Minister Richard Marles said Tuesday. <em>Aboodi Vesakaran, Unsplash</em></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color:transparent">SYDNEY, Australia — Australia will boost spending on drones by up to Au$5 billion ($3.6 billion) in response to shifts in warfare seen in the Middle East, Defense Minister Richard Marles said Tuesday.</span></div><div><span style="background-color:transparent"><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/17/attacks-hit-uae-after-iran-blames-it-for-strikes-0916">Attacks hit UAE after Iran blames it for strikes</a></span></div><p>Australia&#x27;s vast coastline and small population have spurred a focus on developing large autonomous submarines and fighter jets, dubbed the Ghost Shark and Ghost Bat.</p><p>The use of cheaper drones mass produced by Iran in the Middle East and Ukraine conflicts has prompted the decision to also boost spending on smaller drones and counter-drone systems, Marles said in an ABC radio interview.</p><p>&quot;We look at what&#x27;s happening in the Middle East right now -- you need counter-drone technology as well,&quot; he said.</p><p>Australia will spend Au$12 billion to Au$15 billion over the next decade on autonomous capabilities, Marles said ahead of an update to the national defence strategy to be released Thursday.</p><p>&quot;Clearly, autonomous systems now are really central to how contest happens, how war happens,&quot; he said.</p><p>Australia needed the full spectrum of drone capabilities for its defense because of its geography, Marles said.</p><p>&quot;What you get at the smaller end is mass -- you know, lots of units -- and that&#x27;s what we are seeing play out in Ukraine,&quot; he added.</p><p>Wary of China&#x27;s navy build-up, US ally Australia has reshaped its defense force in recent years to focus on its missile strike capability and deterring an adversary from its northern approaches.</p><p>Its AUKUS defense partnership with the United States and Britain aims to transfer nuclear-powered submarine technology to Australia next decade.</p><p>Germany said last month it is considering Boeing&#x27;s Australian-developed Ghost Bat, designed to fly alongside a fighter jet and return to base, as it modernizes its air force.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS<br/></strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SyHQl_gXPtg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wr4WMycZffg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Australia will boost spending on drones by up to Au$5 billion ($3.6 billion) in response to shifts in warfare seen in the Middle East, Defence Minister Richard Marles said Tuesday.</p>

Australia will boost spending on drones by up to Au$5 billion ($3.6 billion) in response to shifts in warfare seen in the Middle East, Defence Minister Richard Marles said Tuesday.

Australia to spend billions on drones as warfare changes

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Australia to spend billions on drones as warfare changes

Agence France-Presse

Published April 14, 2026 11:19 AM PHT

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Agence France-Presse

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