The Australian government says two new advanced anti-ship missiles fired from mobile launchers are being evaluated and a decision is expected later this year, according to Reuters.

Accordingly, Australian officials are considering a precision strike missile version with an expected range of up to 1,000 km and can be launched from the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers manufactured by military contractor Lockheed Martin (USA). According to the Australian Ministry of Defense, the country currently has 42 HIMARS launchers, many of which are expected to be operational from 2026 - 2027.

The new missiles are a key part of Canberra's plan to counter China's more assertive military presence in the waters around Australia, with Australian security officials predicting that Chinese warships will become regular visitors off Australia's coast in greater numbers.

On February 21, Chinese warships conducted military exercises in the Tasman Sea (between Australia and New Zealand), forcing some commercial flights to change their routes. The Australian Ministry of Defense reacted strongly to the exercise. China said the exercise was "safe, standard and professional", in accordance with international law.

Such exercises will test the Australian military’s political resolve and surveillance capabilities, according to Reuters. Australian National Intelligence Director Andrew Shearer said on February 24 that some of the Chinese fleet’s activities appeared “designed to be provocative,” but acknowledged that Beijing had complied with international law.

Mr. Ross Babbage, a former Australian defense official working at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (USA), said that equipping new missiles has become more urgent in the context of increasing uncertainty about the commitment of the US President Donald Trump's administration to traditional security relationships.

Mr Babbage also said that if a conflict were to occur in the Indo-Pacific region, it would be protracted and Australia would need a large missile arsenal. However, Australia currently spends only about 2% of its GDP on defence. Some critics say government spending on Australia’s urgent military programs has stagnated.

Mr. Mick Ryan, a former Australian army general, assessed that the new missile will bring strong attack capabilities and act as a deterrent to potential opponents.

Asked how Beijing views the decision by Australia and other countries in the region to increase their missile arsenals, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said the country was pursuing a "defensive defense policy" and that China should not be used as "an excuse to escalate" and "provoke an arms race".