US approves $250 million Tomahawk missile sales for Australia

Asia-Pacific, News, US January 13, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

The U.S. State Department has approved $250 million worth of Tomahawk cruise missile sales for Australia under the Foreign Military Sales. The possible sale covers the provision of general weapons support services, logistics support management, and material support.

According to a statement released by the United States Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on January 10, 2024, the State Department decided to approve the Government of Australia’s request to purchase General Tomahawk Weapons System Support Services Uplift and related equipment for an estimated cost of $250 million.

In a request submitted in September 2023, the Government of Australia expressed interest in buying 200 Tomahawk Weapon Systems for its Hobart-class destroyer. The request included the purchase of general weapons support services, logistics support management, material support, engineering technical support, management of technical data, and other related elements of logistics and program support.

At the time when the request was made, the Hobart-class destroyer had just finished its 20-week-long maintenance period with substantial upgrades. After the approval, the request has been forwarded to the U.S. Congress for further approval.

The objective of the “proposed sale will allow Australia to better utilize the Tomahawk Weapon System it is procuring and ensure appropriate weapon pairing is evaluated to identify defined targets more precisely,” the agency explained.

*^{The destroyer Dewey conducts a Tomahawk missile flight test while underway in the western Pacific. (Image Credit: MC2 Devin Langer/U.S. Navy)}*

A DSCA statement highlighted that the proposed sale of this support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. “It will also assist and contribute to Australia’s joint maritime weapon technology development, analysis, and implementation; support multiple lines of effort to enhance interoperability and interchangeability with the US; and uplift joint warfighting operational effects,” it added.

Bolstering regional defense

In November 2023, the U.S. State Department approved Japan’s request to purchase 400 Tomahawk missiles and their related equipment in a deal valued at around $2.35 billion. While Tokyo plans to acquire the U.S.-made missiles in 2025, ahead of schedule, no timeline has been given for Tomahawk deliveries for Australia.

Tokyo’s original plan was to acquire the missiles starting from 2026 and 2027, to equip the Japanese naval fleet of Aegis destroyers. However, considering the ongoing security situation of the region, Japan is seeking to procure at least 200 Tomahawk Block IV missiles between fiscal 2025 and 2027. The second lot of 200 missiles will be of Block V and it will start in late 2027.

*^{Launch of a Tactical Tomahawk cruise missile from USS Stethem. (Image Credit: U.S. Navy)}*

Tomahawk missiles are produced by American defense giant, Raytheon. According to Raytheon, U.S., and allied militaries have flight-tested the GPS-enabled Tomahawk missiles 550 times and used them in combat for more than 2,300 times. Its most recent use came in 2018 when U.S. Navy warships and submarines launched 66 Tomahawk missiles at Syrian chemical weapon facilities.

Washington considers Australia and Japan as one of its most important allies in the Indo-Pacific region. The U.S. has been providing substantial military aid and weapons to its fellow ‘Quad’ nations in the region to counter China’s military modernization, and making them a vital support for U.S. national interests in the region.