Australia buys $7billion of Standard Missiles

The government today announced a $7billion agreement with the United States to acquire Standard Missile 2 Block IIIC (SM-2 IIIC) and Standard Missile‑6 (SM-6).

FILE PHOTO (August 2024): HMAS Sydney fires Royal Australian Navy’s first Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) during Exercise Pacific Dragon 2024. Photo by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

Minister for Defence [who prefers to be called Deputy Prime Minister, even when making Defence Portfolio announcements] Richard Marles said the purchase was a significant milestone in the government’s rapid progress in boosting the long-range capability of Navy’s surface combatant fleet.

The SM-2 IIIC and SM-6 are the most advanced air- and missile-defence weapons in the world and will be progressively deployed across Navy’s Hobart-class destroyers and, in the future, the Hunter-class frigates.

This follows the recent successful test firing of a SM-6 from HMAS Sydney.

“The SM-2 IIIC and SM6 contain advanced technologies that will greatly enhance the lethality and effectiveness of our Navy ships in line with the National Defence Strategy and the Independent Analysis into Navy’s Surface Combatant Fleet,” Mr .

The SM-2 IIIC brings active seeker technology and significantly enhanced defensive capabilities against missile threats.

The SM-6 missile will provide Australia with extended range air defence capability against air and missile threats, an offensive anti-ship capability and for the first time, a terminal ballistic missile defence capability.

The SM-2 IIIC and SM-6 complement existing capabilities such as ESSM Block 2 and Naval Strike Missile as part of a layered strike and missile defence capability for Navy’s surface combatant fleet.

The Albanese Government is enhancing deterrence by rapidly boosting the Navy’s long-range strike capabilities.

“The Standard Missile‑6 and Standard Missile 2 Block IIIC will enable our Navy to strike maritime, land and air targets at long range, and provide a terminal ballistic missile defence capability,” Mr Marles said.

“This is another example of the Albanese Government accelerating the acquisition of critical capabilities for the Australian Defence Force and enhancing the lethality of Navy’s surface combatant fleet.”

Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy said Australia was the first country, other than the United States, to fire the SM-6 missile, underscoring the strength of our alliance.

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