Australia, US demonstrate ‘rapid infiltration' capability at military exercise

The Australian Army transported its HIMARS on USAF C-17 Globemaster aircraft to demonstrate the artillery systemʼs air transportability as a part of Exercise 'Kenney Strikes Backʼ. (Commonwealth of Australia)

The Australian Army, US Army, and US Air Force (USAF) demonstrated the ability to conduct rapid infiltration missions as part of Exercise ‘Kenney Strikes Back' held in Australia in December 2025.

The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) said on 7 January that as a part of the exercise Australian Army and US Army land platforms were loaded onto an unknown number of USAF Boeing C-17 Globemaster III airlift aircraft and transported across the country. These platforms included the Lockheed Martin M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARSs), the Thales Bushmaster 4×4 protected mobility vehicle (PMV), and the Polaris MRZR lightweight tactical vehicle.

According to the DoD, the platforms were transported from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base Amberley in the southeast of Queensland “to far-north Queensland and the south coast of New South Wales before rapidly establishing communications, simulating a fire mission and reloading onto the C-17s for a quick exit”.

Warrant Officer Class Two Mick Krek, Battery Sergeant Major of the Australian Army's 14 Regiment's 54th Siege Battery, said, “I feel our training has postured us perfectly to execute missions such as this to deny avenues of approach to the north.”

US Army's 17th Field Artillery Battery Commander Captain Daniel Schell said, “We were able to receive a mission during our flight window and then store that information.

“We hit the ground running and moved over to the firing point, then transferred the information from US forces to Australian forces, who then prosecuted the target.”