Australia to acquire Tomahawk cruise missiles & other missile systems, develop new hypersonic missiles

 

A Tomahawk cruise missile launched by a US Navy destroyer. Photo c/o ASPI Strategist.

As part of the expanded relations between Australia and the United States through the AUKUS trilateral alliance agreement, it was confirmed that Australia will be acquiring several new precision missile capabilities for all services of its armed forces.

The AUKUS will prioritize the consultation on Australia's acquisition of new missile capabiities over the next 18 months.

Among those included in the planned acquisition will be the RGM-109 Tomahawk ship-launched cruise missiles.

The missiles, made by US defense company Raytheon, are to be fitted to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) three Hobart-class air defense destroyers. 

The Tomahwak missile will improve the RAN's capability to conduct long range land attack and anti-ship capabilities, and provide a new anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) deterrence that could be deployed in strategic areas against potential opposition forces. 

Also, the Australian Government also announced that it plans to acquire the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range (JASSM-ER) air-launched cruise missiles, which would arm the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fleet of Boeing F/A-18A/B Hornets and Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters.

While the RAAF already operates the original AGM-158A JASSM, the new Extended Range variant will allow launching fighters to strike targets up to 900 kilometers away.

While already announced before, it was again reconfirmed that the RAAF will also get the Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM) to arm the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in anti-ship role, and probably the Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

The Australian Army is also slated to receive a new precision guided strike missile although it was not named. 

It is expected to be able to strike targets up to 400 kilomters away.

These new capabilities are said to enhance Australia's ability to deter and respond to security challenges.

Australia also a has an ongoing project to locally produce precision guided munitions under its Sovereign Guided Weapons Manufacturing Enterprise project, which is being accelerated as the country prepares for the acquisition of new Medium-Range Ground Based Air Defense capabilities.

The United States is also collaborating with Australia in the development of next-generation hypersonic missiles, capable of flying faster than existing missiles, and reducing reaction time of enemy forces from incoming missile strike.




[1] Naval News
[2] Australian Defence Magazine 
[3] The Drive - The War Zone