Australian and Army U.S. Forces Conduct HIMARS Long Range Strike Exercise.

The Australian Army, working with the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, demonstrated a rapid infiltration and long-range strike capability during Exercise Kenney Strikes Back in December 2025. The event showed how Australia’s newly acquired HIMARS can be operationally integrated with U.S. airlift and joint fires, strengthening allied strike options in the Indo-Pacific.

Australian Department of Defence announced on January 7, 2026, that Australian and U.S. forces successfully conducted a complex joint demonstration during Exercise Kenney Strikes Back, held across multiple locations in Australia late last year. The activity paired Australian Army High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers with U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force airlift and targeting support, highlighting a credible ability to rapidly deploy precision fires over long distances in a contested environment.
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An Australian Army M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is positioned for loading aboard a United States Air Force C-17 Globemaster III (Picture source: Australian MoD)

At the core of the demonstration was the deployment of multiple Lockheed Martin M142 HIMARS launchers assigned to the 10th Brigade’s 14th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery. Each HIMARS launcher, weighing roughly 16.25 tonnes and mounted on a 6x6 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles chassis, was loaded onto a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at RAAF Base Amberley. The C-17, with a maximum payload exceeding 77 tonnes and the ability to operate from relatively short and austere runways, enabled the rapid movement of heavy firepower across continental distances, a key requirement for Indo-Pacific operations.

The aircraft transported the HIMARS launchers alongside Australian Army Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles and U.S. Army Polaris MRZR lightweight tactical vehicles to dispersed forward locations in far-north Queensland and along the south coast of New South Wales. The Bushmaster, a mine-resistant 4x4 vehicle designed to protect crews from mines and improvised explosive devices, supported protected mobility and command functions, while the MRZR, a highly mobile all-terrain vehicle weighing under one tonne, provided rapid reconnaissance, liaison, and local security around firing areas.

Upon arrival at forward operating sites, including RAAF Base Scherger and HMAS Albatross, Australian and U.S. artillery elements executed a compressed mission profile designed to mirror real-world contingency timelines. HIMARS crews rapidly established communications, received simulated fire missions, and maneuvered launchers into firing positions. Although no live rockets were launched, the full digital fire control and targeting process was exercised before the systems were reloaded onto the C-17s for immediate extraction.

The HIMARS platform is particularly suited to this concept of operations. Each launcher can fire a pod of six Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System munitions with ranges of up to 80 kilometers, or a single Precision Strike Missile with a range exceeding 500 kilometers, while retaining the ability to displace within minutes after firing. Its compatibility with C-17 airlift allows commanders to reposition long-range fires rapidly across theater-scale distances, complicating adversary targeting and enhancing survivability.

Warrant Officer Class Two Mick Krek, Battery Sergeant Major of the 54th Siege Battery, 14th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, said the exercise represented an important milestone for a unit still transitioning onto the HIMARS system. He noted that the ability to deploy forward, execute a mission, and withdraw quickly aligns directly with Australia’s requirement to deny potential avenues of approach to its northern maritime and air corridors. He also highlighted the value of working alongside experienced U.S. HIMARS crews to accelerate tactical proficiency.

From the U.S. perspective, the exercise validated combined fire mission execution under tight time constraints. Captain Daniel Schell, Commander of the U.S. Army’s 17th Field Artillery Battery, explained that fire mission data was received during the flight window, stored digitally, and transferred to Australian crews immediately after landing. This sequence demonstrated that allied forces could share targeting information and prosecute strikes without reliance on fixed command posts, a critical capability for operating in contested environments.

The C-17 Globemaster III played an operationally central role rather than serving merely as a transport asset. With a cruising speed of around 450 knots and intercontinental range, the aircraft enabled the rapid concentration and dispersion of combat power. The involvement of the USAF’s 62nd Airlift Wing highlighted how strategic airlift underpins joint fires concepts by transforming heavy artillery into a maneuver element.

Exercise Kenney Strikes Back also reinforced Australia’s broader force transformation under its long-range strike and littoral maneuver initiatives. The Australian Army’s HIMARS fleet, expected to exceed 20 launchers by the end of 2026, is intended to integrate with naval and air sensors to create a networked fires capability able to operate across Australia’s vast geography. The exercise moved this capability beyond acquisition and into credible operational rehearsal.

The selection of forward sites such as HMAS Albatross and RAAF Base Scherger added strategic significance. Both locations are positioned near key sea lines of communication and potential operating areas in the Indo-Pacific, underscoring the ability of Australian and U.S. forces to project precision fires from dispersed bases without prolonged build-up.

As regional security conditions continue to tighten, the ability to insert, strike, and extract long-range fires at speed is becoming central to allied deterrence planning. Exercise Kenney Strikes Back demonstrated how Australian and U.S. forces intend to operate in future high-end contingencies, emphasizing mobility, integration, and precision under demanding operational conditions.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group

Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.