The Australian Defence Force will equip troops with the land-based, long-range, surface-to-surface High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) — together with launchers, missiles and coaching rockets.
The HIMARS system might be in use by 2026-27, Defence Minister Richard Marles mentioned.
The launchers presently have a spread of as much as 300km, which is predicted to extend with technological advances.
They additionally embody a weapon-finding radar to detect and reply to land, air and maritime threats, which is being delivered by Australian firm CEA.
The US has delivered numerous HIMARS launchers to Ukraine, the place they’ve been instrumental within the nation’s resistance to the continuing Russian invasion.
The authorities has additionally signed a contract with Kongsberg for a amount of Naval Strike Missiles (NSM), which might be doled out to the Navy’s Hobart Class destroyers and Anzac Class frigates, changing the ageing Harpoon anti-ship missile on these ships from 2024.
The NSM will present Royal Australian Navy ships with a strong maritime strike functionality, the federal government mentioned.
The missiles will even be delivered with the involvement of Australian business.
The mixed offers are value greater than $1 billion; the precise quantity is saved beneath wraps for safety causes.
“In the current strategic environment, it’s important the Australian Defence Force is equipped with high-end, targeted military capabilities,” Marles mentioned.
He mentioned the NSM and HIMARS would assist Australian forces “deter conflict and protect our interests”.
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Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy mentioned the brand new purchases put Australia on the “cutting edge”.
“The Naval Strike Missile is a major step up in capability for our Navy’s warships, while HIMARS launchers have been successfully deployed by the Ukrainian military over recent months and are a substantial new capability for the Army,” he mentioned.
