Paterson Proposes B-21 Bombers for Australia's Defense

0:00Shadow Defense Minister James Patterson floated the idea of Australia grabbing a fleet of next-generation B-21 stealth bombers from the United States. He pitched it as a smart stopgap while waiting for those Akas nuclear submarines to roll in. Speaking of the National Press Club, he made clear it's not official coalition policy, just something worth looking into for long-range strike power. These bombers are in testing with the U.S. Air Force right now, set to replace their aging B-2 fleet with about 100 new ones. Australia hasn't flown any bomber since retiring the F-11 back in 2010, and a recent defense review shot down the B-21 idea. But Patterson argues it could fill a real gap before the Virginia class subs hit service in the late 2020s or early 2030s. Patterson stressed only the government can decide if the Royal Australian Air Force can handle them, but he urged exploring options to avoid a capability crunch during peak danger times. He also defended the tough Akas deal hard, saying no other sub-pats make sense and pointed

1:03to threats like Iran messing with the straight of Hormuz. To show supply chain risks in our region, like the Straits of Malaka, on top of that, he's pushing the coalition's line to crank defense spending up to at least 3% of GDP, warning that skimping now would gut. Other services just defunded Akas. He echoed the defense minister's nod to the U.S. alliance being irreplaceable, even with Trump-era quirks, no other power block can secure Indo-Pacific, stability without America. This keeps the pressure on for bolder defense moves, bridging old gaps with fresh tech while the subs build out, making sure Australia stays ready for. Whatever coercion comes next, I'm Corey with The Story, and you've been listening to Adelaide News today, AI-powered local news.