By Caitlin Powell in Canberra

Australia’s navy has hit a significant milestone in boosting the lethal nature of its national defence strategy following a long-range missile test.

HMAS Sydney successfully fired a Standard Missile 6 during Exercise Pacific Dragon 2024, which was recently held near Hawaii.

It was the second test on the cruiser in less than a month after the vessel fired a Naval Strike Missile during Exercise RIMPAC 2024, the world’s largest international maritime exercise, in July.

The missiles, which are being acquired from the US, will improve the navy’s long-range capability once rolled out to its surface combatant fleet.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the recent test was another step toward strengthening the Australian Defence Force’s “lethality”.

“The ability to deter an adversary from extended ranges and to deter attempts to project power against Australia is a core part of the National Defence Strategy,” he said in a statement.

The federal government’s $50.3 billion National Defence Strategy announced in April laid down plans to transform the defence force in coming years.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said at the time that Australia was facing “the most complex and challenging strategic environment since the Second World War”.

The missiles will be deployed across the navy’s Hobart class destroyers, which provided air defence for accompanying ships, land forces and infrastructure in coastal areas.

In the future, the missiles will be included on the Hunter class frigates – the Australian anti-submarine warships which are still under construction.

HMAS Sydney will return to Australia later this year.