Australia expands P-8A Poseidon strike role with long-range LRASM capability for maritime deterrence in the Indo-Pacific

Australia demonstrated the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile from a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon during Exercise Medusa Fury in Hawaii. The July event expanded the patrol aircraft's role from surveillance and anti-submarine work to long-range precision attacks against surface ships. LRASM has a stated range exceeding 370 kilometers and uses semi-autonomous guidance to find targets in contested maritime environments. The test followed an earlier launch from an Australian F/A-18F Super Hornet and supports a broader effort to distribute anti-ship strike capacity across the country's 13 P-8As, although no operational fielding date was announced.