An Australian warship tested a American Tomahawk cruise missileofficials said Tuesday, hailing a “major step” in the country’s decade-long plan to strengthen its fleet in the face of an Asia-Pacific arms race.
HMAS Brisbane fired the Tomahawk on December 3 off the west coast of the United States, the Australian government said in a statement. statementmaking it one of only three countries, alongside the United States and Great Britain, to acquire and fire this missile.
“The Royal Australian Navy has taken a major step forward in achieving an improved and lethal surface combatant fleet,” the statement said.
With an extended range of up to 1,550 miles, the Tomahawk enables maritime platforms to conduct long-range precision strikes against land targets. The missile “significantly” enhances the Australian military’s ability to deter any potential threats, he added.
The Navy issued a video of HMAS Brisbane testing several missiles, including the Tomahawk.
Royal Australian Navy
Defense Minister Richard Marles said strengthening Australia’s defense capabilities and working with partners would “change the calculus for any potential aggressor”.
The test firings are in line with Australia’s plan, announced earlier this year, to spend $7 billion to expand the navy to 26 large surface combatants, up from 11 today.
Pat Conroy, Australia’s minister for defense industry and capability delivery, called the test firing a “game changer.”
“The Tomahawk is the jewel in the crown and a step change in our firepower, deterrence and ability to strike land targets at ranges never before available to the Royal Australian Navy,” Conroy said.
Australia plans to buy more than 200 Tomahawk missiles to arm some of its warships.
The naval expansion plan comes as China and other powers in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond are ramping up their firepower.
Last year, President Biden officially announced that Australia would purchase nuclear-powered attack submarines of the United States A partnership between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, announced in 2021has given Australia access to nuclear-powered submarines, which are stealthier and more capable than conventionally powered ships, as a counterweight to China’s military buildup.
Although the Virginia-class submarines will be nuclear-powered, they will not be armed with atomic weapons and are instead expected to carry long-range cruise missiles.