In February 2025, the Financial Times reported China sent a naval task group 150 nautical miles east of Sydney, its furthest reach down Australia’s east coast. The Australian navy monitored the uncoordinated deployment, seen as a bold move signaling China’s growing Pacific influence amid rising regional tensions and a US command visit. Analysts say it challenges Australia and the US, highlighting Beijing’s double standards on maritime activity.
On July 16, 2025, the US Army successfully fired an SM-6 missile from its portable Typhon system, bullseyeing a sea target during Talisman Sabre 2025 in Australia. This first live test of the containerized launcher by the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force advances the Army’s land-based maritime strike capabilities, reported Gordon Arthur of USNI News. The exercise highlights growing US-Australia efforts to deter China’s expanding naval presence in the Indo-Pacific. Arthur writes:
The U.S. Army hit an at-sea target with a Standard Missile 6 fired from its Typhon missile system as part of the Talisman Sabre 2025 exercise in Australia.
The live-fire test is the first time the Army has tested the containerized missile launcher derived from the Navy MK 41 launchers used on warships outside the U.S. […]
“The deployment of the MRC and successful execution of an SM-6 live fire against a maritime target is another significant step forward in our ability to deploy, integrate and command and control advanced land-based maritime strike capabilities,” said Col. Wade Germann, commander of the 3rd MDTF. […]
With U.S. help, Australia also plans to eventually field hypersonic missiles, which are expected to reside in the 10th Brigade. Missiles like the 1,700-mile-range Dark Eagle could help deconstruct China’s anti-access, area-denial strategy around Taiwan and in the South China Sea. […]
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