Australia to Spend $385m on High-Tech US Artillery

HIMARS offers multiple- launch rocket system firepower on a wheeled chassis. Photo: Lockheed Martin

Australia will buy $385 million worth of mobile rocket launchers from the US, after the Department of State approved the sale of high-tech artillery to one of its closest allies.

The High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) launchers and related equipment are part of Canberra’s desire to boost its military presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Australia requested 20 HIMARS and other equipment, the Pentagon said. The principal contractors will be Lockheed Martin, L3Harris and UK-based Chelton.

Australia has been boosting its defence spending over the past few years as China looks to step up its presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Last year, Australia entered into a deal to buy nuclear-powered submarines from the US and Britain.

US Weapons Sales

Washington approved several weapons sales worth as much as $3.1 billion to several allies, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, including helicopters to Egypt and missiles to the Netherlands.

Approval by the State Department at this point virtually ensures the sales will go through.

The US also approved the sale of Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters and related equipment to Egypt for an estimated cost of $2.6 billion.

The Netherlands increased a previous order for AIM-9X Block II Tactical Missiles and AIM-9X Block II+ Tactical Missiles. The missiles will be made by Raytheon and will cost about $117 million, the Pentagon said.

Reuters, with additional editing by George Russell

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George Russell

George Russell is a freelance writer and editor based in Hong Kong who has lived in Asia since 1996. His work has been published in the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, New York Post, Variety, Forbes and the South China Morning Post.