Weaponry of the Australian Army

This is a list of the equipment currently used by the Australian Army.

Individual equipment

Uniforms

Assault rifles and carbines

Precision rifles

Machine guns

Pistols

Submachine guns

Shotguns

Grenade launchers

Anti-armour

Mortars

Grenades and anti personnel mines

Bayonets

Armoured Vehicles

Utility, reconnaissance and support vehicles

Artillery

Air defence

Aircraft

Unmanned aerial vehicles

Watercraft

Future equipment

Infantry weapons

The Army has begun to roll out the Enhanced F88 Austeyr (EF88) to replace the F88 Austeyr. The new rifle has several new features including improved modularity featuring extended accessories rail, a fixed barrel, bolt catch release and a black paint scheme. In July 2015, the ADF ordered 30,000 EF88 rifles and 2,277 Steyr Mannlicher SL40 grenade launchers. The roll out of the EF88 was scheduled to begin in July 2016 commencing with 3rd Brigade and other Townsville-based units, then in 2017 7th Brigade and other southeast Queensland units and from 2018 to 2021 1st Brigade and others. In July 2020, a second order was placed for an additional 8,500 rifles for the Army Reserve 2nd Division. The Army acquired more than 500 suppressors for the EF88 that were manufactured by Oceania Defence for regular infantry battalions which were rolled out from May 2021.

In November 2021, ''Defence Technology Review'' reported that Thales Australia in collaboration with the Army were developing a next-generation individual weapon in bullpup configuration chambered for the 6.8 mm calibre similar to the US Next Generation Squad Weapon program.

Artillery

The ''2020 Force Structure Plan'' stated the Army would acquire a battery of long-range rocket systems to provide fire support up to . The 2016 Defence White Paper had earlier announced that the Army would acquire a long-range rocket system. The new system will be procured under LAND 8113 Phase 1. In May 2022, the US approved a Foreign Military Sale of 20 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) together with four different types of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) and an Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). On the 18th of August 2023 the US State Department announced that the Australian Government had been approved to purchase and additional 22 HIMARS units and associated equipment - bringing the total units on order to 42.The Australian Government noted the new deal - worth AU$1.5 billion - would accelerate the acquisition and more than double the number of units on order.

In July 2021, the Army became a partner in the US Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) program that is developing a surface-to-surface precision-strike guided missile with a range of over . The US Army has reported that the M142 HIMARS will be able to fire the PrSM.

Under LAND 8116 Phase 1, the Army will acquire 30 AS9 Huntsman 155mm self-propelled howitzers based on the South Korean Hanwha K9 Thunder together with 15 AS10 Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicles (AARV) to be built in Geelong in Victoria with deliveries expected in 2025.

Air defence

Under LAND 19 Phase 7B, the RBS-70 Short Range Ground Based Air Defence system will be replaced by the enhanced National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) with CEA Technologies Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars and the AN/AAS-52
Multispectral Targeting System. The system comprises a CEA Operational (CEAOPS) AESA search radar fitted on a Rheinmetall HX77 truck, a 5m telescopic mast and housing mounted on a Hawkei and a fire distribution centre mounted on a HX40M truck with a Mk2 canister launcher. The system also has a smaller mobile CEA Tactical (CEATAC) AESA fire-control radar fitted to a Hawkei and a high mobility launcher fitted to the Hawkei. The Mk2 canister launcher and the high mobility launcher will be configured to launch the AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). Two batteries were ordered in June 2019 with initial operational capability scheduled for 2022-23.

Armoured vehicles

In December 2011, the Thales Hawkei PMV (Protected Military Vehicle) was selected as the preferred tender for the Army's requirement of a light 4x4 armored car with a potential order for 1300 vehicles. The seven-tonne Hawkei has been described as a 'baby' variant of the Bushmaster having been developed by the same manufacturer.

Under LAND 400 the ASLAV and M113s will be replaced, with the project to acquire a Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV), an Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), a Manoeuvre Support Vehicle (MSV) and an Integrated Training System (ITS). The ASLAV fleet is planned to be replaced from 2020, and the M113s from 2025. On 19 February 2015 the tender was opened for the replacement of the ASLAV, listing a requirement for up to 225 armored vehicles to provide the future mounted combat reconnaissance capability. The remaining requirements of the project will be confirmed by the upcoming Defence White Paper; however, it is expected to include an infantry fighting vehicle—a capability currently only partly provided by the in-service M113AS4 Armoured Personnel Carrier—as well as a manoeuvre support vehicle, and an integrated training system. The project has since been scaled back with a 2023 Defence Strategic Review announcement that the armoured vehicle acquisitions would be reduced to accommodate a quicker acquirement of the land-based anti-ship missile system amongst other projects.

Under LAND 907 Phase 2 the M1A1 Abrams will be upgraded to the M1A2 through replacement. In January 2022, the government announced that the Army will acquire 75 M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams and six M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicles which will be delivered from 2024. Under Land 8160 Phase 1, the Army is reviving the Combat Engineering Vehicle capability lost with the Leopard tanks and will acquire twenty-nine M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles and seventeen M1074 Joint Assault Bridges to be delivered from 2024.

Aircraft

The Army is replacing its fleet of ARH Tiger attack and MRH-90 Taipan utility helicopters earlier than planned. The ARH Tiger was scheduled to receive a A$1–2 billion mid-life upgrade in the late 2010s and was planned to be operated into the 2030s. The 2016 Defence White Paper stated the Tiger would be replaced in the mid-2020s and cancelled the mid-life upgrade instead the Tiger is to receive a A$500–750 million upgrade. In January 2021, under LAND 4503 Phase 1 the government announced that the Army will purchase 29 Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian to replace the 22 Tigers from 2025. In January 2014, the Army commenced retiring the fleet of 34 S-70A-9 Black Hawks from service and had planned for this to be completed by June 2018 to be replaced by 41 MRH-90 Taipans. The Chief of Army delayed the retirement of 22 Black Hawks until 2021 for the 6th Aviation Regiment due to issues operating the MRH-90 in a special operations role. On 10 December 2021, the Black Hawk was retired from service. On the same day, amid issues with the MRH-90 Taipans the Australian government announced that they would be replaced by UH-60M Black Hawks. The MRH-90 was planned to be retired in 2037. In August 2022, the US approved a Foreign Military Sale of 40 UH-60Ms to Australia. In January 2023, the Army announced the acquisition of 40 UH-60Ms with deliveries commencing in 2023.

Summary

This list includes equipment currently on order or a requirement which has been identified:

* LAND 4503 Phase 1 is set to replace the Tiger ARH helicopter with the Boeing AH-64E Guardian helicopter.
* A new deployable short-range ground-based air defence missile system is slated to replace the RBS-70 MANPADS by the early 2020s.
* Land-based anti-ship missiles were outlined as a new requirement in the 2016 Defence White Paper to defend deployed forces as well as offshore assets such as oil and natural gas platforms.
* The Australian Government committed to improving the systems that individual soldiers use. Items outlined in the DWP include "weapons and targeting equipment, digital communications systems, body armour and self protection equipment (including for chemical, biological and radiological threats), and night fighting equipment."
* 1,100 Hawkei protected mobility vehicles are currently being procured at a cost of around $1.3 billion.
* The Bushmaster PMV is to be replaced beginning in 2025 by a new platform.
* LAND 400 Phase 2 replacement program is set to replace the existing 257 ASLAVs with 211 Boxers.
* LAND 400 Phase 3 replacement program is set to replace 431 M113AS3/4 APCs.
* LAND 907 Phase 2 replacement program is set to replace the M1A1 Abrams with M1A2s.
* LAND 8113 Phase 1 will acquire a long-range rocket artillery and missile system. The US has approved the sale of 42 M142 HIMARS.
* A riverine patrol capability is to be re-established in 2022. The capability will be established around a fleet of small, lightly armed patrol vessels to allow access to a range of different environments.
* The Army has outlined a need for enhanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability. With this, they plan to acquire a fleet of armed, medium-range unmanned aerial vehicles along with regular capability updates. They will provide enhanced firepower and ISR as well as a counter-terrorism ability overseas. They will also assist in humanitarian and relief missions.
* LAND 8116 Phase 1 will acquire AS9 Huntsman 155mm self-propelled howitzers.
* 40 UH-60M Black Hawks will be acquired to replace the MRH-90 Taipan with deliveries commencing in 2023.

References

External links

Manufacturing process of the F88 rifle
– ''Army News'', 6 September 2007.
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