AUSTRALIA is to participate in the United States' missile defence program, a move foreshadowed in the 2003 Defence Update.

According to Defence Minister Robert Hill, Australia would work with the US to determine the most appropriate forms of participation that would be beneficial for both Australia's national strategic defence interests and Australian industry.

This participation could include:

• Expanded cooperation to detect missiles at the point of launch and thereby maximise early warning of an impending attack.
• Acquisition of, or other cooperation in the fields of, ship-based and ground-based sensors.
• Science and technology research development, testing and evaluation.

The missile defence program was a non-nuclear defensive system that will not threaten other countries. Rather, its purpose was to negate ballistic missile threats and therefore discourage other countries from developing ballistic missile systems.

"Developing this capability will contribute to global, regional and Australia's security by offering protection from missile attack and dissuading nations from acquiring or developing such weapons," Senator Hill said.

.