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Australia Fires Tomahawk Missile In First

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AUSTRALIA successfully launched its first Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missile (TLAM) for the first time during a test and evaluation activity off the coast of San Diego, United States. In doing so, only becoming the third nation ever after the US and Britain to acquire and fire the Tomahawk.

HMAS Brisbane fires a Tomahawk Weapon System off the coast of San Diego, USA. *** Local Caption *** The Royal Australian Navy is accelerating the Tomahawk Weapon System installation in Surface Combatants culminating in a live firing from a Hobart class destroyer 2024. This is aligned to Government Direction announced in the 2023 Defence Strategic Review and in the 2024 National Defence Strategy.

Launched from the Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Brisbane, the Tomahawk has an extended range of up to 2500 kilometres and is capable of loitering over targets or receive new targets mid-flight thanks to a satellite data link.

Australia’s Defence Forces (ADF) are set to acquire over 200 Tomahawks to be deployed onboard Hobart-class destroyers and future RAN platforms, such as the AUKUS Virginia-class submarines and likely the Hunter-class frigates too.

A Tomahawk Weapon System fired from HMAS Brisbane off the coast of San Diego, USA, moments before impacting it’s target.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said, “The enhanced lethality of Navy’s surface combatant fleet is vital to ensuring the ADF is equipped to meet our strategic circumstances and keep Australians safe. By enhancing our own Defence capabilities, and by working with partners, we change the calculus for any potential aggressor so that no state will ever conclude the benefits of conflict outweigh the risks.”

Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Minister Pat Conroy added, “The Tomahawk is the jewel in the crown and a step change in our firepower, deterrence and ability to strike land-based targets at ranges never before available to the Royal Australian Navy”. 

The Brisbane’s sister ship Sydney successfully fired the anti-ship RGM-184A Naval Strike Missile (NSM) for the first time in August 2024 during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise and another RIM-174 Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) long-range air defence and strike missile in the same month.-shp/adj/dl (Pix:DOD)