Australia’s Department of Defence has confirmed that a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon successfully fired an AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile during RIMPAC 26, extending the maritime patrol aircraft into a long-range strike role. The test came alongside the same day’s declaration of initial operational capability for LRASM and JASSM-ER on the F/A-18F Super Hornet, but the Poseidon firing remains a demonstration rather than an operational capability milestone.
The live shot gives Australia its first confirmed P-8A employment of LRASM and fits a wider push to broaden stand-off strike options across the force. The P-8A has been used primarily for maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare, but the anti-ship test shows how the type can be adapted for maritime strike in the Indo-Pacific. RIMPAC 26 provided the setting for the validation, with no exact firing range disclosed.
The result also underlines Australia’s continued emphasis on long-range deterrence as it integrates the same missile family across different aircraft. IOC for LRASM on the F/A-18F covers the fighter fleet, while the Poseidon test points to future work on doctrine, integration and employment concepts for patrol aircraft in naval strike missions.