By: Robert DoughertyThe Australian Army has celebrated the acquisition of HIMARS systems as an historic achievement with the new ability to accurately hit surface targets hundreds of kilometres away with guided missiles.
The high mobility artillery rocket systems are the first land-based, surface-to-surface missile system acquired in Defence’s future long-range strike capability.
The Australian Defence Force is contracted to receive 20 of the six-wheeled, all-terrain launchers for the Royal Australian Artillery, with initial delivery in 2025 and final operating capability planned for 2029.
The American-designed Lockheed Martin system has a range of 300 kilometres and each launcher module contains either six guided rockets or a single tactical missile.
Major Stephen Bowles of Fires Modernisation-Army said HIMARS could eventually be a primary, combined-arms weapon.
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