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An Australian warship has fired a test US Tomahawk cruise missileofficials said on Tuesday, hailing a “major milestone” in the country’s decade-long plan to bolster 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 statementmaking it one of three countries, along with the US and Britain, to acquire and launch the missile.
“The Royal Australian Navy has achieved a significant milestone in the realization of an enhanced and lethal surface combatant fleet,” he 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” improves the Australian military’s ability to deter any potential threat, he said.
The navy released a video from HMAS Brisbane which fired multiple missiles including the Tomahawk.
Royal Australian Navy
Defense Minister Richard Marles said improving Australia’s defense capabilities and working with partners would “change the calculus of any potential aggressor”.
The test firing is in line with Australia’s plan, announced earlier this year, to spend $7 billion to expand the navy to 26 large surface combatant ships, up from the current 11.
Pat Conroy, Australia’s Minister for Defense Industry and Capability Delivery, called the test launch a “game changer”.
“The Tomahawk is the crown jewel 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 and beyond increase their firepower.
Last year, President Biden formally announced that Australia would buy nuclear powered attack submarines of the USA A partnership between the USA, the UK and Australia, announced in 2021it gave 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 nuclear weapons and are expected to carry long-range cruise missiles.
