Australia-USA Defense Trade Agreement Takes Time to Take Effect

John Howard (left)
G.W. Bush (right)

On Sept 5/07, The Australia-United States Treaty on Defense Trade Cooperation was signed by Australian Prime Minister John Howard and US President George W. Bush. The USA and Canada have had a special agreement for several decades, designed to remove many defense export restrictions on US-Canadian industrial cooperation. In June 2007, Britain and the USA also agreed to a treaty framework.

The new agreements with Britain and Australia were not fully defined when signed, however, and full implementation is a long and complicated process. Over 4 years later, it’s still ongoing. This article explains the issues with the current system, the intent of the treaty, and the steps involved on the way to implementing it. The latest step is Australian legislation:

• The Trouble With the Current System
  
• How the New Treaty Is Intended to Work
  
• Steps Toward Final Approval, and Updates [updated]
  
• Additional Readings
  

Rapid Fire August 22, 2012: Helicopters in Asia

• It seems recent outreach efforts from US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and his deputy Ash Carter might be paying off: according to the Times of India a $1.4B order for 22 AH-64D Apache helicopters (and assorted weapons) is about to be signed. However such reports that Boeing had won the competition already surfaced up in October last year, while the initial DSCA request dates from December 2010.

• Separately the Indian Navy has issued an RFP for 56 light naval utility helicopters that may be worth $1B. Induction planned for 2016.

• Russia will deliver 55 Mi-171E transport helicopters to China at an estimated $10M+ each.