Albanese Government enhances national security with major investment in air defence and aerial strike
3 JULY 2025
The Albanese Government is investing up to $2.12 billion in additional stocks of advanced medium-range missiles to strengthen the Australian Defence Force’s air defence and aerial strike capability.
These AIM-120D-3 and AIM-120C-8 missiles can precisely strike targets at extended range, providing a significant deterrence to potential adversaries. Enhancing the ADF’s strike capability is a key priority of the 2024 National Defence Strategy.
The AIM-120D-3 variant is a supersonic air-launched tactical missile, used on the F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft as well as the F-35A Lightning II aircraft. It is designed to counter threats at extended ranges.
The AIM-120C-8 variant is launched using the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS), and is being brought into service by the Army’s new 10th Brigade and will significantly boost ground-to-air capability against aerial targets.
The Albanese Government is acquiring these missiles through the United States Government’s Foreign Military Sales Program.
Source: Defence Press Release