Australia is racing to deploy new long-range missiles as the recent presence of powerful Chinese warships off its coast underscores Beijing’s expanding naval capabilities.
To strengthen its military firepower, Canberra has announced plans to equip Australian soldiers with anti-ship missiles and advanced targeting radars, aiming to safeguard the country’s extensive maritime borders.
This initiative has been highlighted through recent contract announcements, official speeches, and ministerial statements.
Two new advanced anti-ship missile systems, designed for launch from mobile platforms, are under consideration, with a decision expected by the year’s end.
Australian officials have indicated that future iterations of one contender, Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile, could achieve a range of up to 1,000 kilometers and be launched from High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) units.
Australia has ordered 42 HIMARS launchers from the United States, with deployment scheduled for 2026-27, according to the country’s defense department.
In June, the U.S. Army demonstrated the capability of the Precision Strike Missile by successfully targeting a moving vessel at sea during a Pacific exercise, according to an official statement.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) recently heightened security concerns in Australia by deploying three warships—a cruiser, a frigate, and a replenishment ship—near major cities Sydney and Melbourne.
The flotilla’s presence disrupted air traffic between Australia and New Zealand, causing 49 flight diversions on February 21 due to what appeared to be a live-fire exercise in the Tasman Sea. Chinese authorities did not notify Canberra or Wellington about the exercise.
Australia’s defense minister’s office did not respond to inquiries regarding this development.
According to retired Australian Army Major General Mick Ryan, the new missile systems will provide a formidable strike capability and serve as a deterrent against potential adversaries. “You could put a HIMARS launcher with a maritime strike missile in Sydney, and it would have the potential to hit one of those ships,” Ryan said.
The acquisition of these missiles aligns with Australia’s strategy to counter a more assertive Chinese military presence in nearby waters. Experts suggest these weapons could also support allied forces in defending critical Asia-Pacific islands during a conflict.
Australia is also investing in long-range missiles for its navy and air force. To address what senior officials describe as the “greatest strategic uncertainty” since World War II, Canberra is set to allocate up to AUD$74 billion ($47 billion) over the next decade on targeting technology, long-range strike systems, missile defense, and domestic missile and explosive manufacturing.
Australia is not alone in ramping up its missile capabilities in response to China’s military expansion.
The United States and key Asian allies, including Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Taiwan, are also modernizing their arsenals by deploying new missiles, accelerating hypersonic weapons research, modifying existing systems, and expanding production.
Asked about China’s stance on the missile buildup by Australia and other nations, a foreign ministry spokesperson stated that Beijing adheres to “a defensive national defense policy” and warned against using China as “an excuse to exaggerate tensions” and “incite arms races.”
The urgency for regional allies to enhance their missile capabilities has increased amid uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s commitment to traditional security alliances.
Ross Babbage, a former Australian defense official and now a senior fellow at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, noted that doubts about U.S. reliability could further accelerate missile development efforts.
In response to inquiries, a Pentagon spokesperson reaffirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s stance that deterring China remains a priority.
Long Range Missiles in Australia (Photo: ABIS Bonny Gassner)“One of the ways we do that is by building and maintaining a strong network of allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific,” Pentagon press secretary John Ullyot stated. “There should be no doubt about our commitment to the safety and stability of the region.”
Pressure to Increase Defense Spending
Countries like Australia, which allocate relatively modest budgets to defense, are facing increasing pressure from the Trump administration, which has expressed frustration with allies it believes should be spending more.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Eldridge Colby, Trump’s nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, criticized Australia’s defense spending, stating that it falls below the 3% GDP target suggested by NATO leadership. He emphasized that Australia faces a significant strategic challenge from China.
Australia currently spends approximately 2% of its GDP on defense. Some critics argue that successive Australian governments have failed to prioritize urgent military programs, including missile deployment.
“This deserves a high degree of priority,” Babbage said, advocating for an accelerated approach to missile production and deployment. “We ought to be really turbo-charging this.” He further suggested that in a prolonged conflict in the Indo-Pacific, allies would require substantial missile stockpiles and enhanced manufacturing capabilities.
Canberra’s security officials expect Chinese warships to become more frequent visitors along Australia’s coastline, possibly in greater numbers. Such deployments, like the recent exercise off Australia’s shores, are seen as a test of the country’s political resolve and military surveillance capacity.
A photograph taken by the Australian Defence Force on February 11, 2025, and posted on the Australian government website, depicts the Chinese PLAN Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang off the Australian coast.
During a parliamentary inquiry on February 24, Andrew Shearer, Australia’s Director General of National Intelligence, suggested that some of the Chinese fleet’s actions appeared “designed to be provocative” while acknowledging that they adhered to international law.
Shearer noted that China’s unprecedented military buildup—the largest and least transparent since World War II—has enabled Beijing to project power into Australia’s region with increasing frequency.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson insisted that Beijing “repeatedly briefed” its naval exercises, asserting that these maneuvers align with “international law and international practices.”
Canberra’s embrace of missile technology mirrors China’s own past strategic approach. When the PLA was a relatively weak ground force with outdated weaponry, it prioritized missile development as a cost-effective means to counter superior U.S. and allied forces.
Missiles remain an affordable yet formidable threat against high-value targets such as warships, strike aircraft, military bases, and logistics centers. As a result, regional powers with fewer military resources are now following a similar strategy.
A key goal of the allied response to China’s growing military capabilities is deploying long-range missiles that rival or exceed those in the PLA’s arsenal.
In December, Canberra announced its plan to select either the Norwegian-developed Naval Strike Missile or Lockheed’s Precision Strike Missile for two new army regiments dedicated to maritime defense.
U.S. Marines in the Indo-Pacific have already deployed the Naval Strike Missile via ground-based launchers.
In January, the Australian government awarded a contract exceeding AUD$100 million ($63 million) to Thales Australia for the production of 40 command and control vehicles for the new missile regiments.
To enhance threat detection, the army’s missile regiments will also receive new radar systems. Last month, Canberra signed a deal worth AUD$272 million for up to 14 multi-mission phased-array radars from Canberra-based CEA Technologies.
One major advantage of land-based mobile missile systems is their ability to remain concealed while delivering powerful strikes comparable to more expensive warships and aircraft.
“It’s a truck,” Ryan explained. “You can park it under a tree, come out to fire it, and move back again. They won’t find you.”