CANBERRA, Australia, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Australia will send faulty parts from its U.S.-made battle tanks to the United States for repair or replacement instead of using local industry.
The Australian newspaper said Tuesday the decision appears to violate a government promise to local companies when the decision was made to buy the M1AI from the United States, but is intended only as an interim measure until Australian companies are chosen and geared up for the work.
This is an "interim arrangement as the vehicles are here and we are not doing maintenance," Lt. Col. Andrew Libby told the newspaper. "The same work may cost more here, but we sill support Australian industry and we need to be able to maintain control of our own equipment."
Libby, in charge of the tank acquisition project for the Australian military, said Australian companies would be able to tender bids for maintenance and repair beginning in April.
No date for selection was disclosed.
Australia has contracted for 59 refurbished models of the battle tank as well as for associated support vehicles and equipment.
The first of the tanks arrived in September.
