Story perspectives

Australia and Japan complete Project Boobook laser trials

8/19/2026

Center

Australia-Japan Laser Trials

Australia and Japan completed field trials of the jointly developed high-energy laser system Project Boobook.
Mitsubishi Electric Australia committed 70 million Australian dollars to build a new manufacturing facility at Rydalmere, Sydney for the laser system.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said the laser can mount on land and littoral platforms.
Senator James Paterson asked AFP to investigate a leak of correspondence about melon comment.

Left

Australia-Japan Laser Trials

Australia and Japan completed Project Boobook field trials in August 2026 in Canberra.
The trials deepen defence cooperation as the allies respond to a regional arms buildup.
Defence Minister Richard Marles and Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the successful trials.
The laser can mount on land and littoral platforms to detect missile and drone threats.
The cooperation follows a A$10 billion deal for Australia to acquire three Japanese Mogami-class frigates.

Blindspot

Australia and Japan’s cooperation on Project Boobook follows a A$10 billion deal for Australia to acquire three of Japan’s Mogami-class frigates, as noted by the left-leaning sources.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

Australia’s security pact with Japan—anchored by a Reciprocal Access defence agreement and the Quad dialogue—underpins the 2024 Project Boobook laser trials announced by Defence Minister Richard Marles and Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. The tests build on the existing defence cooperation and arrive as Australia’s 2022 defence budget was 1.9 % of GDP.

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Australia-Japan Laser Trials

Australia and Japan completed field trials of the jointly developed high-energy laser system Project Boobook.
Mitsubishi Electric Australia committed 70 million Australian dollars to build a new manufacturing facility at Rydalmere, Sydney for the laser system.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said the laser can mount on land and littoral platforms.
Senator James Paterson asked AFP to investigate a leak of correspondence about melon comment.

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