Second HIMARS regiment funded

In a major enhancement to the Australian Army’s long-range strike capability, the government has selected the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), investing $2.3 billion to deliver a second long‑range fires regiment.

CAPTION: Australian High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) fires Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) (Credit: Australian Department of Defence – via Lockheed Martin)

The new regiment will be based at the Edinburgh Defence Precinct in South Australia.

A second long‑range fires regiment will significantly enhance the ADF’s ability to engage targets at ranges of up to 500kms, upgrading to more than 1000kms with future increments of PrSM.

Minister for Defence Richard Marles [who continues to refer to himself as deputy prime minister even when making Defence-related announcements] said this was a decisive investment in Australia’s long‑range strike capability that would bolster the Australian Defence Force.

“This capability delivers on the National Defence Strategy direction to accelerate and expand the acquisition of land-based long-range fires to provide the ADF with a deployable strike capability to protect Australia’s northern approaches and contribute to sea control and sea denial,” Minister Marles said. 

HIMARS is already in service with the Australian Army as part of the first long-range fires regiment.

The second regiment will complement Army’s existing HIMARS capability.

Australia’s sovereign missile manufacturing industry in Australia will include missiles fired from the HIMARS launcher.

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