Defence to buy HIMARS or locally made Thales StrikeMaster

The federal government has moved to equip the Australian Army with land-based, long-range fires to protect Australia’s northern approaches.

In line with the priorities of the 2024 National Defence Strategy, the Government will select from two options:

• The Precision Strike Missile fired from the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher vehicle
• The Naval Strike Missile fired from the StrikeMaster launcher vehicle (pictured).

The NSM is the Australian developed option.

A coupling of the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and the Thales Bushmaster flat-bed utility vehicle, the launcher element of the StrikeMaster concept made its public debut in 2022.

To inform this selection process, a competitive evaluation process will occur over the course of 2025, and follows the 2023 decision to accelerate the acquisition of 42 land-based, surface-to-surface HIMARS launchers and precision munitions for the Army.

Together, these capabilities will see two regiments based at the Edinburgh Defence Precinct in South Australia equipped with long-range fires.

The government is investing $28–35 billion over the next decade to develop and enhance targeting and long-range strike capabilities across Defence.

The Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said: “The National Defence Strategy and our Government’s response recognises that land‑based maritime strike is a critical element in achieving a strategy of denial.”

“Today’s announcement represents another historic milestone, which will see our Army equipped with this capability for the first time in history.”

The Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy said the acquisition would provide a path to grow the Australian defence industry.

Picture: Thales StrikeMaster