Australia will invest $1.6bn to buy HIMARS, GMLRS precision-guided projectiles and PrSM tactical missiles with ranges up to 500

Last week, the US State Department approved the sale of M142 HIMARS missile systems to Australia. The amount of the deal was almost $1bn. However, Australia plans to invest 60% more.

Here's What We Know

The potential deal covers 22 M142 HIMARS systems, as well as dozens of GMLRS and GMLRS ER precision-guided projectiles with maximum launch ranges of 80 kilometres and 150 kilometres respectively. The cost is $975 million, but a statement from the Australian Department of Defence said the investment is $1.6 billion.

The funds will also be used to acquire Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). This is an advanced tactical missile with a maximum launch range of about 500 kilometres in its first configuration. It will later be capable of destroying targets within a range of 1,000 kilometres.

PrSM will be a replacement for the ATACMS tactical ballistic missile, which has a launch range of. In addition, Australia plans to start producing missiles for the M142 HIMARS in-house from 2025. The Department of Defence is already working on this.

Source: Australian Ministry of Defence