Australian-first precision strike missile launched at Mount Bundey Station

The Northern Territory has hosted another Australian-first missile launch. SEE THE PHOTOS.

The Northern Territory has been part of an Australian-first missile launch the Australian Defence Force said delivers a significant boost to their long-range strike capability.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy and United States Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll were at the Mount Bundey Training area on Friday when a Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) was test-fired in Australia for the first time.

Defence said PrSM missiles are a next-generation long-range missile with a maximum range beyond 500km, and is central to strengthening Australia’s land and maritime strike capability.

Mt Bundey missile launch 2025.

Australian Defence Force Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, said the missile travelled over 300km between Mt Bundey and Bradshaw Field Training Area near the NT-WA border.

The missile travelled about 300km in a little over four minutes, reaching a maximum height of 60,000 feet, and recorded a direct hit on its target.

The live fire exercise was two years in the planning.

“It was a successful firing, and it was over 300 kilometres from one training range to another,” Vice Admiral Jones said. “It’s an extraordinarily significant step in that the National Defence Strategy published last year directed the ADF to procure long range fires, and we have done that and have now successfully fired one of those.”

A statement released by the ADF said the successful test firing “was a tangible demonstration of how Army is realising speed to capability and was also the first time Army has fired a PrSM from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)”.

Australian Army soldier Gunner Zaryn Monson from 54 Siege Battery, 14th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, loads a Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System onto a HIMARS after firing a Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) at Mount Bundey Training Area, Northern Territory during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.

It said yesterday’s test and the acquisition of the PrSM delivers on the 2024 National Defence Strategy, which directed the Army to optimise for littoral manoeuvre and strengthen its long-range land and marine strike capability.

The test was conducted two-years ahead of schedule and followed the delivery of the first PrSM a year ahead of schedule and the first HIMARS two-months ahead of schedule.

It came after Australia and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this year for PrSM production, sustainment and follow-on development.

Defence said negotiations are expected to commence later this year on options for future domestic manufacturing and maintenance of PrSM in Australia. As co-development partners, Australia and the United States will continue to develop PrSM to maintain its world leading military advantage.

The PrSM was launched on Friday.

Minister Pat Conroy said future missile upgrades would expand this capability to include a greater range of over 1000km improved sensors and novel warheads.

“Today’s PrSM firing is another example of the Albanese Government accelerating long-range strike capabilities for the ADF, alongside the firing of Standard Missile 6, the Tomahawk missile and the Naval Strike Missile last year,” he said.

“From delivering HIMARS ahead of schedule to delivering and testing PrSM ahead of schedule, the Albanese Government is modernising the Australian Army at speed.

“This successful launch is a significant milestone in the Government’s plan to deliver a twenty-five-fold increase to Army’s long-range strike capability.”

Last week, the US Army fired a Mid-Range Capability Typhon missile from Bradshaw, which struck a target off the NT coast. It was the first time the Typhon has been involved in a live-fire event outside of the US continent.

At its peak, 43,000 military personnel from 19 nations took part in Talisman Sabre 2025, which ends on August 4.