A missile is launched from a United States military HIMARS system during joint military drills at a firing range in northern Australia as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre, the largest combined training activity between the Australian Defence Force and the United States military, in Shoalwater Bay on July 22, 2023. (AFP)
SHOALWATER BAY, Australia 鈥� Australia and the United States rehearsed precision missile strikes during war games on Saturday as Canberra overhauls its military strategy in favor of long-range firepower.
A series of live-fire drills were held at the Shoalwater Bay military complex in the northeastern region of Queensland, showcasing the American-made HIMARS missile system recently sold to the Australian Defense Force.
More than 30,000 troops will take part in the biennial Talisman Sabre exercises over the next two weeks, including soldiers from Japan, France, Germany, and South Korea.
The drills come as Australia embarks upon a major overhaul of its armed forces, pivoting towards long-range strike capabilities in an effort to keep would-be foes such as China at arm鈥檚 length.
Australian Army Major Tony Purdy said the HIMARS weapon 鈥� used to devastating effect by the Ukrainian military 鈥� would 鈥減rovide a significant capability boost鈥� and much-needed 鈥渓ong-range precision鈥�.
HIMARS 鈥� or the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System 鈥� was developed for the United States Army by Lockheed Martin in the 1990s.
Defense bosses have praised its coveted 鈥渟hoot and scoot ability鈥� 鈥� it can be placed, fired, moved and reloaded quickly, making it more difficult for the enemy to find and target, lessening the risk to crew.
Australia鈥檚聽first HIMARS are due in 2025 and are expected to come into use over the following two years.
Beijing has been keeping a close eye on the drills, which come amid increasing unease about China鈥檚 growing military muscle in the Asia-Pacific.
A Chinese spy ship had been spotted off Australia鈥檚 northeastern coast as preparations were underway, Lieutenant General Greg Bilton, Australia鈥檚 chief of joint operations, told reporters on Friday.
The Talisman Sabre exercise will also see troops performing amphibious landings, air combat and maritime operations across several Australian states and territories.
Major Jimmy Sheehan, Talisman Sabre spokesperson for the US forces, said the exercise showed 鈥渋ncreased complexity, scope, and partner nation participation鈥�.
鈥淟anguage barriers aside, it鈥檚 challenging to synchronize long-range fires from both air and land,鈥� he told AFP.
鈥淏ut today we saw service members from Australia, the US, Japan and the Republic of Korea successfully operate as a single unit from command and control to execution at the tactical level.鈥�
Speaking of the remainder of the exercise, he added: 鈥淭hese initiatives and 鈥榝irsts鈥� ultimately create an exercise that will enhance Australia and the US鈥檚 ability to respond to global security challenges in the region.鈥�