Deterring from a distance

In July, a P-8A Poseidon and personnel from 92WG deployed on Exercise Medusa Fury to Hawaii to conduct testing of the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM).

This activity broadened the ADF’s maritime strike options, transitioned LRASM employment beyond the F/A-18F Super Hornet and enhanced the reach and flexibility of Australia’s air and maritime integration. 

The LRASM is an air-launched precision-guided semi-autonomous missile designed to destroy high-value, well-defended maritime targets at ranges in excess of 370km.

It is a significant upgrade over other maritime strike weapons in Air Force’s inventory by allowing the targeting of sophisticated maritime targets at significantly longer range. 

CO of 11SQN WGCDR Melissa Houston explained the effort involved in achieving the mission.  

“A combined team from 11SQN and 12SQN very proudly worked together, as part of 92WG, to achieve this very important milestone for P-8A capability,” WGCDR Houston said.

“The activity has required a significant amount of coordination, working with numerous Australian Defence groups and organisations, the United States Navy as well as industry partners to bring this all together and execute it at the tactical level in Hawaii.”

LRASM provides a credible deterrent in our region, enabling precision strike of surface targets consistent with the National Defence Strategy (NDS).

The expansion of the ADF’s long-range strike capabilities – as identified in the NDS – further enhances Defence’s ability to deliver deterrence through denial as an integrated, focused force. 

The strategy of denial is the cornerstone of the NDS. It involves changing a potential adversary’s belief that it could achieve its ambitions with military force at an acceptable cost. By signalling a credible ability to hold potential adversary forces at risk, the strategy also seeks to deter attempts to coerce Australia through force.

“It is the most sophisticated maritime strike capability that the RAAF has ever had and it reinforces the strategy of denial, which is in keeping with the NDS,” WGCDR Houston said.

The P-8A Poseidon is Australia’s proven multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft. 92WG currently commands 13 P-8As, which are operated by 11SQN, 12SQN and 292SQN at RAAF Base Edinburgh.

An Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet had previously successfully tested the LRASM in February 2025.

This was followed in November 2025 by the successful operational testing of the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range (JASSM-ER) by 1SQN’s F/A-18F Super Hornets. 

This activity demonstrated Australia’s ability to conduct long-range strike missions using JASSM-ER, from weapons preparation and loading through to targeting and weapon engagement.

The JASSM-ER is an air-launched precision-guided long-range land strike cruise missile, designed to destroy high-value, well-defended, fixed and relocatable targets from ranges of up to 900km from the point of launch.