US approves HIMARS sale to Australia

The new order will expand Australia's HIMARS inventory to 90 units. (US Army/Sgt 1st Class Steven Queen)

The US Department of State has approved the sale of additional Lockheed Martin M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARSs) to Australia, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on 30 September.

DSCA said the proposed Foreign Military Sale (FMS) features 48 HIMARSs and related equipment, including resupply vehicles and trailers, and is worth an estimated USD705 million.

“The proposed sale will improve Australia's capability to meet current and future threats and will enhance interoperability with US forces and other allied forces,” DSCA said.

The deal, once approved by Congress, will be Australia's third and largest HIMARS order in terms of the number of units. It will also increase the size of Australia's HIMARS inventory to 90.

Australia ordered 20 HIMARSs in 2022 and 22 units a year later. According to DSCA estimates, the total value of its HIMARS procurements, including this new third batch, will be around USD2 billion.

Previous orders of the rocket system also included sales of munitions such as the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and several variants.

The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) announced in March 2025 that the Australian Army had taken delivery of an initial two HIMARS units. In operation with the Australian Army, HIMARS is being operated by the service's 10th Brigade, which is based in Adelaide and was reraised in 2024 as the army's long-range fires brigade.

Deliveries of the 42 HIMARS units ordered by Australia in 2022 and 2023 are scheduled to be completed by 2027.

For more information, please seeAustralian Army takes delivery of first HIMARS .