The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on Tuesday joined its elite allies in successfully firing a Tomahawk ground-attack cruise missile for the first time in a test off the US west coast.
Australia becomes the third country to launch a long-range cruise missile after the United States and Britain.
HMAS brisbane (DDG-41) was the second of the RAN's three Hobart-class air combat destroyers to fire Tomahawk missiles during an ongoing “compatibility deployment” to the United States.
Throughout the implementation brisbane Operating from Naval Base San Diego, the ship also completed a four-week availability maintenance with support from the U.S. Navy.
The Australian Government said in a statement: statement The Tomahawk missile test was a huge success.
HMAS Brisbane fired a Tomahawk Weapon System off the coast of San Diego, USA. The RAN is accelerating the installation of the Tomahawk weapon system on surface combatants, culminating in live fire from a Hobart-class destroyer in 2024. (LSIS Daniel Goodman/RAN)
“The Royal Australian Navy has achieved a major milestone in delivering an enhanced and lethal surface combat fleet.”
The Tomahawk has an extended range of up to 1,550 miles, allowing maritime platforms to conduct long-range precision strikes against land targets.
In a statement, Canberra said the missile would “significantly” enhance the Australian military's ability to deter all potential threats.
Defense Minister Richard Marles said strengthening Australia's defense capabilities and working with partners “changes the calculus against potential aggressors”.
The Tomahawk missile test is in line with Australia's $7 billion plan announced earlier this year to expand its navy's fleet from 11 to 26 major surface combatants.
This naval expansion plan comes as China and other major powers in the Asia-Pacific and elsewhere are increasing their firepower.
Australia plans to buy more than 200 Tomahawk missiles to equip some warships.
