What is Project 8113?

Project 8113 is the Australian Army's long-range precision fires program. Phase 2 doubles HIMARS launchers and adds Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), creating a second regiment in South Australia for enhanced strike capacity.

Why choose US HIMARS over domestic StrikeMaster?

HIMARS offers proven mobility and integration with PrSM's extended range (>1,000km vs. StrikeMaster's shorter NSM missiles on Bushmaster vehicles). The decision prioritizes National Defence Strategy alignment despite StrikeMaster's lower cost.

What are the export risks from US reliance?

Critics fear Pentagon restrictions during the Iran conflict could limit supplies, as seen in prior wars. Minister Conroy counters that local rocket assembly and PrSM co-production mitigate these vulnerabilities.

How does this bolster Australia's defence?

The $2.3 billion investment adds 48 HIMARS for 500km strikes, with PrSM enabling 1,000km+ reach. Defence Minister Marles calls it a "decisive investment" to project power and secure borders remotely.

What local manufacturing benefits arise?

Australia already test-fires assembled HIMARS rockets and will produce PrSM parts locally via US cooperation, creating jobs despite bypassing full domestic StrikeMaster development.

Australia secures $2.3B expansion of HIMARS fleet amid domestic snub

Written by Mahathir BayenaPublished Apr. 27 2026Last Updated Apr. 27 2026

The federal government has bypassed a homegrown defence solution in favour of an additional $2.3 billion investment in American-made weaponry.

Under Project 8113, the Albanese government confirmed Tuesday that the Australian Army will double its High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) capacity, establishing a second long-range fires regiment in South Australia.

The decision effectively sidelines the "StrikeMaster," a cheaper domestic alternative featuring Norwegian missiles mounted on Australian Bushmaster vehicles.

Critics have raised concerns that relying on U.S. technology could expose Australia to export restrictions as the Pentagon prioritizes the ongoing conflict in Iran.

However, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy dismissed these fears, emphasizing that the deal fosters local manufacturing.

Australia has already begun test-firing domestically assembled rockets and plans to produce PrSM components locally through a cooperative program with Washington.

Defence Minister Richard Marles described the purchase as a "decisive investment" aligned with the National Defence Strategy.

While the truck-mounted HIMARS currently strikes targets up to 500 km away, the evolving PrSM platform is expected to exceed ranges of 1,000 km, significantly bolstering Australia’s ability to project power and secure its borders from a distance.