Australia Becomes Third Country Globally to Acquire and Launch Tomahawk Missiles

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Australia has become the third country in the world, after the United States and the United Kingdom, to acquire and launch Tomahawk missiles, marking a historic milestone for its navy.

The Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart-class destroyer, HMAS Brisbane, successfully launched a Tomahawk missile during a test and evaluation activity conducted off the west coast of the United States.

“The Royal Australian Navy has achieved a significant milestone in realizing a more advanced and capable surface combatant fleet,” said a statement released by the Australian government.

With an operational range of up to 2,500 km, the Tomahawk missile provides the Australian Defence Force with the capability to conduct precise long-range strikes against land targets.

The acquisition of this weapon significantly enhances Australia’s ability to deter potential threats and safeguard its citizens.

The Tomahawk missile test aligns with the Australian government’s decision to allocate USD 7 billion (RM31 billion) to expand its fleet of major surface combatants from 11 to 26 vessels.

BRIEF:

Australia has become the third nation globally, after the United States and the United Kingdom, to acquire and launch Tomahawk missiles, achieving a significant milestone for its navy. The Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart-class destroyer, HMAS Brisbane, successfully conducted a Tomahawk missile launch off the U.S. west coast during a test and evaluation exercise.

The Tomahawk missile, with a range of up to 2,500 km, enhances the Australian Defence Force’s long-range precision strike capabilities, bolstering its ability to deter potential threats. This development is part of Australia’s USD 7 billion initiative to expand its major surface combatant fleet from 11 to 26 vessels and follows earlier tests of the Naval Strike Missile and Standard Missile 6.

Australia plans to acquire over 200 Tomahawk missiles for deployment on Hobart-class destroyers, Virginia-class submarines, and potentially Hunter-class frigates. These efforts align with the AUKUS pact, under which the U.S. will provide Australia with Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines as interim platforms until the development of AUKUS-class submarines in the 2040s.

The move comes as regional powers like China continue to advance their defense capabilities, emphasizing the strategic importance of this enhancement to Australia’s naval firepower.

This test follows earlier launches of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and Standard Missile 6 (SM6) conducted by other Australian naval vessels earlier this year.

Australia plans to acquire more than 200 Tomahawk missiles, which will be deployed on Hobart-class destroyers and future naval platforms, including second-hand Virginia-class submarines procured from the United States under the AUKUS security pact.

There is also potential for the missiles to be integrated into Hunter-class frigates, subject to feasibility assessments.

This enhancement of the Royal Australian Navy’s firepower comes as China and other powers in the Asia-Pacific region continue to strengthen their defense capabilities.

Under the AUKUS pact (Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States), the U.S. will sell Australia three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines (SSN-774), with an option for two additional submarines pending congressional approval.

Australia will operate these submarines before collaborating with the UK to develop AUKUS-class submarines featuring U.S. nuclear technology in the early 2040s.

Although nuclear-powered, the Virginia-class submarines to be acquired by the Royal Australian Navy will only be equipped with long-range cruise missiles, likely Tomahawks. – DSA