Australia’s defence force has become the third in the world to acquire and fire a Tomahawk cruise missile.
Federal Defence Minister Richard Marles said HMAS Brisbane, a Hobart class destroyer, successfully fired the missile during a test and evaluation activity conducted off the west coast of the United States.
Minister Marles said with an extended range of up to 2500km, the Tomahawk was a world-class capability, which allowed maritime platforms to perform long-range precision strike against land targets.
He said acquiring this capability significantly enhanced the Australian Defence Force’s ability to deter against any potential threat.
“Australia is one of only three nations, alongside the United States and United Kingdom, to acquire, and now fire, these missiles.”
Minister Marles said the Tomahawk firing followed the firings of the Naval Strike Missile and Standard Missile 6 earlier this year.
He said Australia would acquire more than 200 Tomahawk missiles, which would be deployed in its Hobart class destroyers and future Navy platforms including Virginia class submarines and, subject to feasibility studies, the Hunter class frigates.
“The enhanced lethality of Navy’s surface combatant fleet is vital to ensuring the ADF is equipped to meet our strategic circumstances.”
