Australia Armed Troops With Anti-ship Missiles Due To China's Overshadowing Threat

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Australia is working hard to deploy new long-range missiles due to the recent arrival of Chinese warships off the coast of Australia as a reminder of Beijing's growing naval force.

In a bid to increase military power, Canberra plans to arm Australian troops with advanced antiship missiles and targeting radars to protect the country's maritime territory, according to contract announcements as well as a series of official speeches and recent ministerial statements.

As reported by Reuters on Thursday, March 13, two types of new advanced anti-ship missiles for the army fired from mobile launchers are being evaluated with a decision expected by the end of the year.

Australian government officials say a future version of one of the competitors, Lockheed Martin's Precision Strike Missile, is expected to have a range of up to 1,000 km and could be fired from the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher.

Australia ordered 42 HIMARS launchers from the United States, with launchers expected to operate from 2026-2027, according to the defense department.

The US Army in June used two Precision Serang Missiles to successfully strike targets moving in the sea during exercises in the Pacific, the army said.

The Indonesian People's Liberation Army (PLAN) 'investigated' the Australian security service by deploying three warships' one of its most powerful cruisers near the country's largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, late last month.

Air traffic between Australia and New Zealand was disrupted with 49 flights diverted on February 21 when the Chinese fleet carried out what appeared to be a live shooting exercise in the Tasman Sea without informing authorities in Canberra or Wellington.

According to Mick Ryan, a retired Australian Army Major General, a new missile for the Australian Army will provide strong attack capabilities and act as a deterrent to potential enemies.

You can place the HIMARS launcher with a maritime attack missile in Sydney and the missile has the potential to hit one of these ships, Ryan said.

The new missile for the Australian Army is a key element of Canberra's plan to prepare for a more assertive Chinese military presence in waters around Australia.

The missile could also be deployed to support allied forces defending strategic important islands in the Asia-Pacific region in the event of a conflict, military experts told Reuters.

The new long-range missiles were also ordered for the Australian navy and air force.