Australia acquires state-of-the-art long-range missiles in $7bn deal with the United States

The world’s best long-range missiles will be deployed on Australia’s air warfare destroyers in a major boost to the lethality of the navy.

Australia’s naval fleet will be armed with the world’s best long-range missiles under a $7bn deal with the United States.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy unveiled the agreement in Washington DC to acquire the state-of-the-art Standard Missile 6 (SM-6), giving the Navy a ballistic missile defence capability for the first time.

The long-range missiles can also be used to take out enemy aircraft and intercept incoming air attacks, as well as offering offensive anti-ship capabilities.

“We live in a missile age. We live in the greatest arms race in our region since 1945, with a high degree of strategic uncertainty,” Mr Conroy said.

“Our investment in these world-leading, high-tech missiles is another example of the Albanese government moving fast to keep Australians safe, deter any adversary, and defend Australia’s national interests in the missile age.”

Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, says “we live in a missile age: Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

As part of the agreement, Australia will also acquire the latest version of the medium-range Standard Missile 2 (SM-2), which the US Navy has successfully used to intercept anti-ship missiles and drone attacks by the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea over the past year.

Mr Conroy said Australia was only the second country to successfully test the SM-6, which was fired from HMAS Sydney – a Hobart-class air warfare destroyer – in August.

HMAS Sydney Commanding Officer Grant Coleman said that test was “an immense privilege” for his crew.

“The integration of SM-6 is an important step in enhancing the lethality of the surface combatant fleet,” he said.

HMAS Sydney fires Royal Australian Navy’s first Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) during Exercise Pacific Dragon 2024.

The long-range missiles will be deployed across the Hobart-class fleet, as well as Australia’s future Hunter-class frigates.

“This is another example of the Albanese government accelerating the acquisition of critical capabilities for the Australian Defence Force and enhancing the lethality of Navy’s surface combatant fleet,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles added in a statement.

Mr Conroy refused to comment on when Australia would receive its new missiles from the US, citing operational reasons, and also sidestepped questions about how China would respond to the deal.

“The best way of avoiding conflict is by deterring any potential adversary, and this investment is part of that,” he said.

The Defence Industry Minister said the new missiles were an important part of the government’s plan to more than double the size of Australia’s naval surface combatant fleet, along with its long-term acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS pact.