Federal budget to allocate $4bn for long-range missiles and Australian production of key weapons

US and Philippine troops fire a Himars during an exercise. Australia will buy precision strike missiles, which have a range of 500km, as part of increased defence spending. Photograph: Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

The federal budget will earmark more than $4bn to expand the range of the Australian defence force’s missiles and establish domestic manufacturing.

The government will announce the funding on Wednesday as it faces growing criticism from the Coalition for slashing the number of infantry fighting vehicles to help fund these newer priorities.