Australia Test-Fires Tomahawk Missile from HMAS Brisbane, Extending Strike Range Over 2,500 km

Dec 9, 2024, 11:26 PM

Australia has successfully test-fired a Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missile from the Royal Australian Navy's Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Brisbane (DDG-41) on December 4 during a naval exercise off the American West Coast. This marks the first time Australia has launched a Tomahawk missile, making it only the third country in the world, after the United States and the United Kingdom, to do so. The successful test significantly extends the Royal Australian Navy's strike range from approximately 124 kilometers with the AGM-84 Harpoon missile to over 2,500 kilometers with the Tomahawk, and more than 185 kilometers with the Naval Strike Missile. The move comes as Australia seeks to bolster its long-range strike capabilities in response to challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.