The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and related equipment for an estimated cost of $705 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress.
The Government of Australia has requested to buy forty-eight (48) M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). The following non-MDE items will also be included: M1084A2 HIMARS resupply vehicles; M1095 trailers; Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket (LCRRPR) pods; intercom systems; radio and communication mounts; spare parts and services; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; studies and surveys; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $705 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States. Australia is one of the United States’ most important allies in the Western Pacific. The strategic location of this political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the Western Pacific. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist this ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability.
The proposed sale will improve Australia’s capability to meet current and future threats, and will enhance interoperability with U.S. forces and other allied forces. Australia will use the capability to strengthen its homeland defense and provide greater security for its critical infrastructure. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractors will be Lockheed Martin, located in Grand Prairie, TX; L3Harris Corporation, located in Melbourne, FL; Leonardo DRS, located in Arlington, VA; and Oshkosh Corporation, located in Stafford, VA. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.
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Is this an additional 48 HIMARS to the 42 announced in March, deliveries of which have already commenced, or just a additional 6?
It’s 48 additional systems.
How do these compare cost-wise to the Strikemasters? Did they not work out?
After the Ukraine War everyone seems to love the Bushmaster chassis.
HIMARS seems relatively expensive, but it’s hard to do direct comparisons because of differences in configuration and weapons.
Notice its only a “possible” sale, the U.S.A has taken to approving these things before the actual contracts are ready so as not to create any bottle necks in the system.
Also isn’t it interesting that this deal for 48 systems comes in at $705 million yet the last deal for 22 came in at something like 1- 1.5 billion. what else did that one include. I suspect maybe a faster delivery and possibly our initial PrSM buy.
Now to hope beyond reason that this AND Strikemaster will be purchased and we’ll have a multilayered CMS setup.
The “possible” is always standard FMS wording; it doesn’t mean there’s a level of uncertainty.
I feel we should be looking at the Chunmoo from Korea, it has a large range of missile/rockets, and I feel they have a better chance of being manufactured in Australia. However, if they want to continue down the HIMARS route, we should be looking at the GMARS from Lockheed and Rheinmetall. This system doubles the missile count and is based on the Rheinmetall HX truck family which are currently being supplied to the ADF.
With regards to the LAND 8113, program, we should not limit the selection to one supplier/family of missiles:
– HIMARS and PrSM are planned to enter ADF service
– NSM is already in service with the ADF (Navy) and the proposed bushmaster truck launcher is manufactured in Australia (Kongsberg is also supplying the NASAM System)
There is a case for both to be purchased, NSM is a smaller range, stealthy cruise missile and PrSM is a longer range ballistic missile, both offer different and complementary capabilities
Would also like to put it out there that Chunmoo is developing an anti-ship missile and out of left field there is the Type 12 from Japan.
Just wanted to highlight there is several options out there and we don’t need to always default to the FMS solution
I agree completely with all of your comments. I ran an article back in 2023 that the head of Hanwha Aerospace offered full tech transfer for Chunmoo, including the Australian manufacture of all the rockets and missiles. Defence took no interest.
Given what the RAAF chief had to say yesterday about deep budget cuts I very much doubt if any additional HIMARS or new Strikemasters are going to be ordered for the Army.
The piggy bank has been emptied out by AUKUS.