Australia boosts army with HIMARS and more armored vehicles

MELBOURNE — Australia has announced further boosts for its army with the acquisition of more Lockheed Martin High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) for long-range strike and Thales Bushmaster wheeled armored vehicles.

The HIMARS launchers will be used to equip the second long-range fires regiment of the Australian Army, according to a news release issued by the Australian government today. The $2.3 billion AUD ($1.65 billion) acquisition will also see the introduction of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) for Australia.

“A second long range fires regiment will significantly enhance the ADF’s [Australian Defence Force’s] ability to engage targets at ranges of up to 500kms [311 miles], transforming to more than 1,000kms with future increments of PrSM,” the release said. “This will increase our capacity to respond effectively to contingencies in our region and work with our allies and partners.”

The move is expected add to the 42 HIMARS Australia has previously ordered and which are in the process of being delivered.

The release didn’t say how many HIMARS or PrSM would be acquired, but an FMS approval notification issued by the State Department in September last year said Australia was seeking to buy 48 HIMARS launchers. Australia is also in the process of setting up local production facilities for the PrSM, having already started manufacturing the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) for its HIMARS fleet.

Australia had also announced on Monday that it would be acquiring 268 new Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles under a $750 million AUD contract.

Thales Australia, a subsidiary of the French defense firm that manufactures the Bushmaster in Bendigo, Australia, said that the investment will enable it to develop the next generation Bushmaster. The company says will come with a suite of improvements including increased personnel and towing capacity, integrate a wide range of sensors and weapons and a fully modular crew cabin.

The acquisition of the new Bushmasters will see Australia selling an unspecific number of its existing Bushmaster fleet to the Netherlands, which is an existing user of the vehicle. Australia has also donated 120 Bushmasters to Ukraine, where they have been used in its fight against the ongoing Russian invasion.