Australian defence force to spend $1bn acquiring naval strike missiles and army rocket systems

Australia will spend more than $1bn on new naval missiles and acquiring a US rocket artillery system used by the Ukrainian military.

Defence has also signed a contract with the Norwegian firm Kongsberg to provide naval strike missiles, replacing the ageing Harpoon anti-ship missiles on Hobart-class destroyers and Anzac-class frigates from 2024. The number of missiles ordered is classified.

Defence will additionally acquire a weapon-locating radar system from the Australian company CEA.

The Himars will be in service by 2026-27, increasing the range of Australian army strike weapons from the current 30km to 50km to up to 300km, with further advances in the precision strike missile achieving a range of more than 499km.

In October Conroy suggested the government was developing a plan with defence companies Lockheed Martin and Raytheon to develop a sovereign missile manufacturing industry.