Japan, Australia Complete Boobook Laser Trials as Allies Expand Defense Ties Beyond Warship Deal
Updated
Updated · The Japan Times · Aug 18
Japan, Australia Complete Boobook Laser Trials as Allies Expand Defense Ties Beyond Warship Deal
3 articles · Updated · The Japan Times · Aug 18
Summary
A successful field trial of the Boobook high-energy laser marked what Japan and Australia called a significant new milestone in bilateral defense collaboration.
Defense ministers Shinjiro Koizumi and Richard Marles said the co-developed system can be deployed on land and sea platforms, using lasers to optically detect incoming threats and improve protection and situational awareness.
The two sides also advanced a separate plan to test advanced missiles on Australian soil, signaling a broader push to deepen operational cooperation.
That expansion goes beyond Canberra’s 2025 decision to buy warships from Tokyo, moving the quasi-allies toward more joint development and testing of military technology.