Australia Conducts First Live-Fire HIMARS Test During Talisman Sabre 2025

On July 14, 2025, Australia conducted its inaugural live-fire test of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland. This event marked a significant enhancement of Australia's long-range strike capabilities and underscored its commitment to regional security.

The HIMARS system, capable of striking targets up to 400 kilometers away, was fired jointly by Australian, U.S., and Singaporean forces. Brigadier Nick Wilson highlighted the strategic importance of this capability, stating, "This is a significant milestone for the Australian Army, demonstrating our ability to conduct long-range precision strikes and enhancing our deterrence posture in the region."

The live-fire exercise was part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, the largest bilateral military training activity between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the United States military. Running from July 13 to August 4, the exercise involves over 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations, including Japan, India, and the United Kingdom. For the first time, elements of the exercise are being conducted in Papua New Guinea, highlighting the growing capabilities and interoperability with Pacific partners.

Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations for the ADF, emphasized the exercise's significance:

"Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 unites more than 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations and provides an unrivalled opportunity to train together across the sea, land, air, space, and cyber domains."

Australia has committed A$74 billion over the next decade to enhance its missile capabilities. This investment includes plans to acquire 42 HIMARS units from Lockheed Martin and establish domestic missile production. The integration of HIMARS into the ADF's arsenal is expected to significantly bolster Australia's defense posture.

The live-fire exercise and the broader Talisman Sabre 2025 activities occur amid growing concerns over China's military presence in the Indo-Pacific region. Chinese surveillance ships have historically monitored these drills, and similar observations are expected during this iteration. Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy stated that Australia would adjust operations accordingly to China's observation.

Lieutenant General Joel B. Vowell, Commanding General of U.S. Army Pacific, emphasized the exercise's role in deterrence:

"These exercises allow us to employ war-winning capabilities, operate in critical locations, demonstrate multinational resolve, and strengthen our collective deterrence. Our shared goal: to prevent war."

Exercise Talisman Sabre has been a biennial event since 2005, consistently expanding in scale and complexity. The 2025 iteration is notable for its unprecedented size and the inclusion of new participants and locations. The successful HIMARS live-fire exercise signifies a substantial advancement in Australia's long-range strike capabilities and reflects the nation's commitment to regional security and defense modernization.

As the exercise continues, participating nations will engage in a series of complex training scenarios designed to enhance interoperability and readiness across multiple domains. The collaborative efforts demonstrated during Talisman Sabre 2025 underscore the importance of multinational cooperation in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.