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The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has announced a possible sale of Tomahawk cruise missile systems to Australia. The proposed deal is worth an estimated $1.5 billion and would involve the sale of 200 Tomahawk Block V All-Up-Round missiles, along with associated equipment, spare parts, and support services.
The Tomahawk missile system is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile that is designed for precision strike missions against heavily defended targets. It is a proven weapon system that has been used extensively in combat operations, most recently in the strikes against Syrian chemical weapon facilities in 2018.
The proposed sale would enhance Australia’s capability to deter regional threats and strengthen its interoperability with the US. It would also support Australia’s maritime security and provide it with an enhanced ability to conduct naval operations independently or in coordination with other allies.
The sale of the Tomahawk missile system to Australia is part of a broader trend of increasing defense cooperation between the US and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region, as they seek to counterbalance China’s growing military power and assertiveness in the region.
The proposed sale is still subject to approval by the US Congress, and it remains to be seen how Australia’s neighbors, particularly China, will respond to the move. However, if approved, the sale could have significant implications for the balance of power in the region and could potentially escalate tensions between the US and China.
Overall, the proposed sale of the Tomahawk missile system to Australia highlights the increasing importance of the Indo-Pacific region in global affairs and the growing significance of defense cooperation among allies in the region. It also underscores the continued rivalry between the US and China, which is likely to shape the region’s security landscape in the years to come.
CNN reports that:
So far only the UK has bought Tomahawks from the US, but recently Japan announced its intention to buy hundreds of the missiles, which cover a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), to boost its defense capabilities.
About Tomahawks
First deployed in the Gulf War in 1991, Tomahawk missiles fly at extremely low altitudes at high subsonic speeds and are controlled by several mission-tailored guidance systems. According to the US Navy, they can be launched from submarines made by the US and the UK, as well as from US Navy ships.
- The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile is a long-range, all-weather, jet-powered, subsonic cruise missile that is primarily used by the United States Navy and Royal Navy in ship and submarine-based land-attack operations. Source: Wikipedia
- Maximum speed: Subsonic; ~Mach 0.74. about 567.7 mph (493.3 kn; 913.6 km/h)
- Engine: Williams International F107-WR-402 turbofan; using TH-dimer fuel; and a solid-fuel rocket booster
- Manufacturer: General Dynamics (initially); McDonnell Douglas; Hughes Aircraft Corporation; Raytheon Missiles & Defense
Length: Without booster: 18 ft 3 in (5.56 m) With booster: 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m) - Diameter: 20.4 in (0.52 m)
Mass: 2,900 lb (1,300 kg), 3,500 lb (1,600 kg) with booster
Unit cost: : $1.87M (FY2017) (Block IV); $2M (FY2022) (Block V);