The Precision Strike Missile is one of two options being considered by Australia in its programme to procure a land-based maritime strike capability. (US Army)
The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) announced on 6 December that it will choose either Lockheed Martin's Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) or Kongsberg's Naval Strike Missile (NSM) to meet an Australian Army requirement for a land-based maritime strike capability.
Under the programme, framed by the DoD's Land 8113 Phase 2, the DoD will select from the PrSM Increment (Inc) 2 fired from Lockheed Martin's High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher vehicle or the NSM fired from the Thales Australia StrikeMaster launcher vehicle, which is based on the company's Bushmaster protected mobility vehicle.
The DoD said that to inform the selection process, it will hold a competitive evaluation process that will take place during 2025.
Australia's Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy said in a press conference that the procurement is closely aligned with the Australian Army's shift towards littoral combat and long-range strike, capabilities prioritised in Australia's Defence Strategic Review (DSR). Under Land 8113 Phase 1, Australia has already ordered 42 HIMARSs and PrSM Inc 1s, which are expected to have a maximum range of beyond 500 km.
“We're going from an army with the longest-range weapon of 40 km to one with a range in excess of 500 [km] up to 1,000 km,” said Conroy. “Part of that is equipping a second long-range fires regiment to do maritime strikes, so having Australian Army missile launchers able to sink ships as they approach Australia or before [they're] deployed.”
He added, “The timeframe for a decision is late 2025, perhaps early 2026, and then that capability will be introduced into service some years after that.”
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