Australia signs PrSM production agreement with US

PrSM features a solid rocket motor developed by Northrop Grumman. (US Army)

Australia has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United States for the production, sustainment, and follow-on development of Lockheed Martin's Precision Strike Missile (PrSM).

Australia's Department of Defence (DoD) said on 6 June that the MOU provides “the Australian Defence Force (ADF) access to PrSM munitions and establishes PrSM as a co-operative programme between Australia and the US”.

“The MOU also provides options for future domestic manufacturing and maintenance of PrSM in Australia, with negotiations on options expected to commence later this year,” the DoD added.

According to the DoD, Australia will invest AUD310 million (USD202 million) over 10 years to “become a full co-operative partner in the PrSM programme”.

“[The DoD] will also invest around AUD150 million over the next five years to acquire the initial quantities of the capability required to establish the first Long-Range Fires Regiment,” the DoD said.

Australia's Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said, “This [MOU] demonstrates our commitment to deliver on priorities outlined in the 2024 National Defence Strategy to accelerate acquisition of long-range land and maritime strike capabilities and adopt a strategy of denial.”

Australia and the US signed a separate MOU in August 2021 to formalise initial co-operation on the development of PrSM. Under this agreement, Australia said it would contribute USD54 million to “increase the lethality, range, and target engagement of the baseline missile [PrSM] in development”.

At the time, the Australian Army's head of land capability, Major General Simon Stuart, said the 2021 agreement supported the development of PrSM under Increment 2 (Inc 2) of the programme. Inc 2 features enhanced sensors to track maritime targets. Its development is expected to be completed by 2026.