Australia to Spend $2 Billion on Abrams Tanks, Helicopters From US

A supplied photograph of an Australian Army M1A1 Abrams tank firing at targets during Exercise Chong Ju at Puckapunyal training area, Victoria, Australia on May 17, 2018. AAP Image/Supplied by Australian Department of Defence

The U.S. State Department will soon sign-off a US$2 billion arms deal to the Australian government for 160 new Abrams tanks and four Chinook helicopters.

The sale comes amid Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s pledge last year to increase defence spending in response to rising geopolitical tension in the Indo-Pacific region.