The US-made M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, known as Himars, is deployed during a military exercise near Skede, Latvia © Gints Ivuškāns/AFP/Getty Images
The Australian government said on Thursday it would spend more than A$1bn (US$680 million) on advanced missile defence, including the US-made Himars system that has successfully defended Ukraine against a Russian invasion.
The Himars package, which includes launchers, missiles and training rockets, will provide Australia’s military with a “significant capability boost”, said Richard Marles, the country’s defense minister.
CEA, an Australian company, will provide the radar system that will be integrated with the Himars launcher, he added.
The US state department said in May it had approved the sale of Lockheed Martin’s M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launcher and related equipment for about $385 million.
The system is expected to be deployed in Australia in 2026-2027.
“In today’s strategic environment, it is important that the Australian Defense Force is equipped with high-end, targeted military capabilities,” Marles said.
Himars’ announcement comes a day after Canberra signed a deal with Norwegian group Kongsberg to supply naval missiles for Australia’s destroyers and frigates from 2024.
Australia has in recent years taken a more assertive defense posture, with previous conservative governments increasing military spending and signing a trilateral security pact with the US and UK in 2021.
Last month, US defense secretary Lloyd Austin said after a meeting with Marles that Washington would “reinforce our defense cooperation” with Canberra.
Austin said the US plans to deploy more fighters, bombers and other assets in Australia in the face of China’s “dangerous and coercive” actions in the Indo-Pacific region.