Canberra inks $1.3bln Tomahawk deal, goes off-coast eyeing China

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Aug 2023 09:57

The acquisition will empower Canberra to significantly broaden its military target range by approximately 1,000 km into the Indo-Pacific region.

A Tomahawk missile launched from a US Navy warship as part of a military exercise (AFP)

Australia is set to buy 200 American-made Tomahawk cruise missiles in a $1.3 billion deal with the United States, as part of Washington's agenda to hyper-militarize its Indo-Pacific AUKUS ally with eyes locked on China, The Guardian reported on Sunday.

The long-range weapons would be some of the "most powerful and technologically advanced" weapons in the county's arsenal, Australia's Defense Department stated.

Following the inception of AUKUS in September 2021, a trilateral military alliance involving Washington, Australia, and the UK, Canberra has actively collaborated with its allied partners to enhance its operational capacities, aiming to extend the geographical scope of its armed forces beyond its coast. Central to this strategic effort are the nuclear-powered submarines, poised to assume a pivotal role.

"We are investing in the capabilities our Defence Force needs to hold our adversaries at risk further from our shores and keep Australians safe in the complex and uncertain world in which we live today," Defense Minister Richard Marles said.

The Tomahawk, which is considered one of the world's foremost advanced missiles and a source of pride for the US Army, boasts an impressive operational range exceeding 1,000 kilometers.

China has constantly warned that AUKUS risked setting off an arms race and held the three countries responsible for setting back nuclear nonproliferation efforts, also accusing the United States of leading a Western effort at "all-round containment, encirclement and suppression of China."

Initially, the Australian Navy's Hobart Class destroyers will be equipped with this cutting-edge weapon, setting the stage for its eventual integration into nuclear-powered submarines down the line.

"As we enter what many are calling the missile age, these will be vital tools for the Australian Defence Force to do its job of defending Australians," Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy said.

Washington has previously committed to assisting Canberra in the establishment of its domestic missile production industry. This strategic initiative is essential to enhance preparedness for potential supply chain disruptions, similar to those experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the aftermath of the start of the conflict in Ukraine.

"We are buying these weapons now to deliver capability quickly," Conroy added.

"But we are also considering options to manufacture missiles domestically because of the importance of building sovereign Australian defense manufacturing capabilities."

The US military has in the past few years conducted test-fires on prototype hypersonic cruise missiles at the Australian Defence Force weapons range in South Australia.