Australia will make its first major investment in sea mines. The country could spend about a billion dollars on high-tech underwater weapons to protect its waters from China and other potential adversaries.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported on this.

The media’s sources in the defense industry shared that the federal government would soon announce signing a contract to purchase a substantial number of sea mines from a European weapons supplier.

Sources claim the total cost of the purchase is confidential but expected to be in the range between $500 million and $1 billion.

Defense expert Peter Jennings, Former Head of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, noted: “In a world where China is investing huge amounts of money in creating a navy with long-range capabilities, sea mines are a sensible counter-measure for Australia to adopt. This is an idea whose time has come.”

“The mere threat of sea mines can be a powerful psychological weapon against potential adversaries,” Jennings said.

The Defence Department intends to purchase a sophisticated form of multi-influence ground mines that react to acoustic, magnetic, and pressure influences of passing vessels. They can be laid on the ocean floor by ship, submarine, or from the air.

The sea mines Australia is seeking to acquire can be activated and deactivated remotely after being laid, allowing friendly commercial and naval vessels to safely pass through channels and ports.

The Department’s Spokesperson noted that modern sea mines could discriminate between military targets and other ships, making them different from the old mines.

Currently, Italy and Spain are two of Europe’s leading sea mine manufacturers, which offer their products for export.

Previously, Australia launched an accelerated procurement of new missile weapons to strengthen its own naval fleet.

It signed a contract with the Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace company to purchase NSM anti-ship missiles and related equipment. The missile systems will be installed on ANZAC-class frigates and HOBART-class destroyers of the Royal Australian Navy and will enter service in 2024.