Canberra has chosen the HIMARS rocket artillery system and Precision Strike Missile as the centerpiece of its future land-based long-range fires strategy. The Lockheed Martin solution defeated a competing StrikeMaster bid developed by Thales and Kongsberg, which mounted Naval Strike Missiles on Bushmaster protected vehicles. Alongside the selection, Australia will establish a second fires regiment at the Edinburgh Defence Precinct in South Australia. Officials say the force will initially be able to strike targets at distances up to 500 kilometers, with later increments extending beyond 1,000 kilometers. The move is part of a wider A$37 billion ten-year investment aimed at improving the Australian Defence Force’s precision targeting and strike reach. Australia received its first HIMARS launchers in 2025, and the systems have already fired Precision Strike Missiles during Exercise Talisman Sabre ahead of schedule. The army also recently launched its first locally produced Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System round. Canberra is simultaneously working to bring domestic industry into maintenance, sustainment, and missile supply chains. Future options may include local production and servicing of PrSM, supporting sovereign capability while deepening alliance interoperability with the United States.
