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