AAP

The government has added a project to buy long-range missiles to its list of problem defence acquisitions.

The project to acquire stand-off missiles for RAAF aircraft was launched in 2004 with the Lockheed Martin AGM-158A Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) chosen in 2006.

It was scheduled to have entered service by December 2009.

“The project is running late and risks to capability remain,” Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare said in a joint statement.

Mr Smith expressed his dissatisfaction in a speech to the defence senior leaders group on Friday.

“Government has not been kept properly and fully informed as to the progress with respect to this major project,” he said.

“It is essential for government to be appropriately informed about the delivery of complex and important capabilities so that appropriate steps can be taken to manage issues that emerge in relation to cost, capability or schedule.”

JASSM is a large but stealthy cruise missile, weighing almost a tonne and designed to hit targets at ranges of more than 200 nautical miles.

A series of failed tests in the US has caused significant delays in the missile’s development. The US Navy withdrew from the program in favour of the SLAM-ER missile, based on the proven Harpoon missile.

he next major stage in this project is a live JASSM firing from an Australian F/A-18 in the US later this year or early 2011.

Defence has undertaken to provide a full report on the effectiveness of the test to help a decision about the fate of the project.

JASSM is the 18th project added to the projects of concern list since it was established in 2008. Projects are listed due to delay, cost blowouts or a risk that contracted capability won’t be achieved.

Six projects have been removed from the list, five through remediation and one through cancellation.

Mr Smith said defence would now ensure JASSM received additional scrutiny and oversight by senior officers.