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October 30, 2026
Friday 30 October 2026
Ben Packham
The Australian
Defence officials have refused to guarantee that Israeli-developed capabilities will be fairly treated in an upcoming tender for Australia’s first ballistic missile shield, saying the selection of capabilities is a matter for the government.
The Australian revealed on Wednesday that Defence has asked Washington for pricing and availability information on a US Marine Corps version of Israel’s Iron Dome defence system.
The US Army’s Patriot missile defence system and a land-based adaptation of the US Navy’s Aegis platform have also been identified as options, while bids are also expected from non-US suppliers including Norway’s Kongsberg and South Korea’s Hanwha, as well as potentially Israel’s Rafael.
Opposition defence spokesman James Paterson sought reassurance in a Senate estimates hearing that “if the best capability happens to be derived from Israeli technology, that won’t be a barrier to deploying it for the ADF”.
Defence Secretary Meghan Quinn replied: “We can’t give you any kind of absolute around government decision making, Senator. As you understand, we provide the best advice. We provide all the information, and then it’s a matter for government decision making.”
Cabinet minister Murray Watt, representing Defence Minister Richard Marles, said “the government will always seek to deliver the most suitable military technology, regardless of the country of origin”.
Senator Paterson replied: “I’m not sure that will instil confidence in people bidding this process.”
The exchange followed a warning by ex-Defence deputy secretary Peter Jennings that Defence officials were wary of proposing Israeli weapons to ministers, in what he called “almost self-censoring” behaviour.
Mr Marles’ office declined to respond when The Australian asked whether Australia would seriously consider Israel-developed options, considering Canberra’s strained relations with Jerusalem.
Greens leader David Shoebridge said Australia should “end the two-way arms trade with Israel, not double down on it”.
“Israeli arms companies have been using the genocide in Gaza and the wars around the region as sales pitches,” he said.
“Look around the world – Spain, Italy, Brazil and others have cancelled contracts with Israeli arms companies in recent years. But Labor seems to be going in the opposite direction.”
The Greens have applied consistent pressure on the government over the export of Australian-made F-35 parts into the global supply chain that Israel draws from.
Senator Paterson urged the government to consider Israeli defence technology on an equal footing with the alternatives.
“Australia should choose the best capability that can be delivered the fastest,” he said. “There should be no shadow ban against Israeli companies when it comes to Defence procurement in Australia. The Albanese government and Defence should not let the Greens fringe dictate our defence procurement.”
Senator Paterson also questioned the government’s mid-2030s timetable to have an operational medium-range missile defence system in place to protect bases and troops.
“Delivering this capability in the mid-2030s is far too slow given the government itself has admitted the 10-year warning time for future conflict disappeared many years ago,” he said.
Defence Department acting deputy secretary Racheal Kuczma said it was hoped the capability would be in service “as soon as possible”.
Australia’s consideration of an Iron Dome-derived system follows years of worsening relations between Canberra and Jerusalem under the Albanese government.