US approves sale of Tomahawk mission-planning systems to Australia

A file image of HMAS Brisbane firing a Tomahawk missile off of the cost of San Diego in December 2024. (Commonwealth of Australia)

Washington has approved the potential sale of Tomahawk mission-planning systems and associated communications equipment to Australia for an estimated USD300 million.

In a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) notification released on 8 October, the US Department of State said Canberra has requested to purchase Theater Mission Planning Centers (TMPCs) and a mission-planning system related to the Tomahawk missile.

The proposed sale also includes engineering, training, and logistics services to support the development and delivery of the mission planning systems.

The US approval did not specify the number of TMPCs or mission-planning systems requested by Australia.

According to the notification, the acquisition will enhance Australia's Tomahawk capability and improve its ability to deter regional threats while increasing interoperability with US maritime forces and other allied forces.

BAE Systems, Boeing company Tapestry Solutions and US defence information systems company Leidos have been named as the main contractors for the potential sale.

The latest approval builds on several earlier Australian acquisitions intended to establish a Tomahawk capability for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

In August 2023, Canberra confirmed that it would acquire more than 200 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US for approximately AUD1.3 billion (USD900 million).

Canberra said at the time that the acquisition was intended to provide the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with an ability to hold potential adversaries at risk at longer ranges.

In January 2024, Washington approved another FMS to Australia, valued at approximately USD250 million, covering support services for the Tomahawk.