WASHINGTON, — The U.S. Department of State has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia valued at an estimated $300 million for Tomahawk cruise missile mission-planning systems, communications equipment and related support services.
According to the State Department notification issued on October 8, the proposed package includes Theater Mission Planning Centers (TMPCs), the TMPC Mission Planning System (MPS), communications systems, program management, engineering, training, logistics and other related support services. The approval does not confirm that a final contract has been signed or that any equipment has been delivered.
Supporting Australia's Tomahawk Programme
The package supports Australia's programme to acquire more than 200 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles for the Royal Australian Navy, comprising Block IV and modernised Block V variants. The missiles have a reported range exceeding 2,000 kilometres, with some official Australian statements citing up to 2,500 kilometres under certain conditions, depending on the variant and mission profile.
The mission-planning systems will support the preparation and coordination of missile operations, while communications equipment and technical services will help integrate the capability into Australia's military command structures. The latest proposal focuses on operational planning and support infrastructure rather than additional missiles.
In December 2024, the Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Brisbane successfully test-fired a Tomahawk missile during a trial off California's coast, making Australia the third country, after the United States and the United Kingdom, to fire the missile.
The missiles are planned for Hobart-class destroyers and future Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines. Their possible integration onto Hunter-class frigates remains subject to further assessment and is not confirmed.
Contractors and Strategic Objectives
The State Department identified four principal contractors for the proposed sale: BAE Systems in San Diego, California; Tapestry Solutions in St. Louis, Missouri; Peraton in San Jose, California; and Leidos in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
No offset agreement has been identified. Any such arrangements would be negotiated directly between Australia and the contractors. Implementation would not require additional U.S. government or contractor personnel to be assigned to Australia.
The State Department said the sale supports U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives. It is expected to strengthen Australia's ability to address current and future threats, deter regional threats, enhance homeland defence and improve interoperability with U.S. maritime forces and other allied militaries. The department assessed that Australia could integrate the systems and services into its armed forces without difficulty.
The notification also stated that the proposed sale would not alter the basic military balance in the region or adversely affect U.S. defence readiness.
Previous Approvals
The latest proposal follows a March 2023 approval for a possible sale of up to 200 Tomahawk Block V and up to 20 Block IV missiles, with associated equipment and support, valued at an estimated $895 million. In January 2024, the United States also notified a possible $250 million sale of general Tomahawk weapons system support services.
The proposed $300 million package would add mission-planning, communications and sustainment infrastructure to support Australia's wider Tomahawk acquisition programme.
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