HMAS Brisbane fires a Tomahawk Weapon System off the coast of San Diego, US. (Commonwealth of Australia)
A Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Hobart-class destroyer has carried out the service's first firing of the Tomahawk cruise missile.
The Department of Defence (DoD) in Canberra said on 10 December that HMAS Brisbane (DDG-41) – the second of the RAN's three Hobart-class destroyers – carried out the firing during a test and evaluation activity conducted off the west coast of the United States. The DoD said the firing was a success.
According to the DoD, the firing positions Australia as the third country in the world alongside the US and UK to “acquire and fire” a Tomahawk cruise missile.
Janes understands that during the test the Tomahawk missile navigated a route consisting of more than 20 waypoints and destroyed the target with minimal damage to other items in the area. The Tomahawk hit the target within 2 ft of its intended point of detonation.
Janes also understands that the firing was designed to ensure correct integration and operation across the engagement sequence and confirm the key functionality of the missile system. The test was carried out against a shipping container, a target routinely used for these types of trials.
Australia's intention to procure Tomahawk for its Hobart-class destroyers and future Hunter-class frigates was announced in August 2023. Under current plans Australia will procure more than 200 Tomahawk missiles for about AUD1.3 billion (USD834 million). Some of these missiles will also deploy from Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines Australia will receive in the early 2030s.
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