Australian navy ships will be equipped with missiles capable of striking targets 1500 kilometres away in a $3 billion boost to the nation’s long-range firepower designed to deter potential adversaries from encroaching on Australian territory.

The Albanese government will announce on Monday that it is acquiring over 200 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States, making Australia just the third nation to secure the highly potent weaponry.

Over 200 Tomahawk land attack missiles will be deployed on Australian navy vessels.

The missiles, manufactured by defence giant Raytheon, will be deployed on the navy’s Hobart-class air warfare destroyers at a cost of $1.3 billion.

The long-awaited purchase comes as the government announced it would also double the amount of high mobility rocket launchers it is purchasing from the US at a cost of $1.6 billion.