Australia buys almost $5 billion worth of anti-aircraft missiles

Australia has announced the purchase of SM-2 and SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles worth $4.68 billion from the United States.

Here's What We Know

Australia is investing this amount in SM-2 IIIC and SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles to strengthen its Navy.

"The Standard Missile 6 and Standard Missile 2 Block IIIC will enable our Navy to strike sea, land and air targets at long range and provide ballistic missile defence, enhancing the ability of the Australian Armed Forces to protect Australians and their interests," said Defence Minister Richard Marles.

The SM-2 IIIC and SM-6 missiles will be gradually deployed on Hobart-class destroyers and, in the future, on Hunter-class frigates. This became possible after the successful test firing of the SM-6 from the destroyer HMAS Sydney.

Interestingly, Australia became the first country other than the United States to fire the SM-6 missile.

In August 2021, the US State Department approved "services related to the future acquisition" of SM-6 and SM-2 IIIC missiles. This deal was worth only $350 million, and it is likely that it secured this contract.

In October 2024, it became known that the Australian Department of Defence would receive approximately $13.7 billion more to support the Hunter frigate construction programme.

Source: Breaking Defence