Lockheed Martin Awarded Contract To Manufacture Guided Weapons In Australia.

Lockheed Martin Australia has been awarded a AUD$37.4M (excluding GST) contract to commence manufacturing missiles in Australia. Under this Guided Weapons Production Capability (GWPC) Risk Reduction Activity contract, Lockheed Martin Australia will commence fit out in preparation for a state-of-the-art guided weapons production capability at the Defence Establishment Orchard Hills in western Sydney.

The objective of GWPC Risk Reduction Activity is to have Australian involvement in the manufacture of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) All Up Rounds (AURs) and Launch Pod Containers (LPCs). A live fire demonstration of the AURs will occur in Australia from 2025.

„We are excited about this strategic endeavour to bring advanced factory technology to Australia,” said Tim Cahill, Executive Vice President Missiles and Fire Control, Lockheed Martin.

“Lockheed Martin will transfer the technology and service delivery as is in many of our U.S. advanced weapon factories – accelerating the development of manufacturing capability in Australia for Lockheed Martin weapons,” said Cahill.

Warren McDonald, Chief Executive Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, welcomed the announcement. “As a GWEO strategic partner, we are proud to be awarded this important defence contract. The GWPC Risk Reduction Activity contract will provide a mechanism for swift knowledge and technology transfer and serve as a risk mitigator and pathfinder to future manufacture in Australia of the Lockheed Martin suite of guided weapons.”

Lockheed Martin’s Australian Defence Strategic Capabilities Office has been working with the Commonwealth and industry partners to expedite the delivery of a guided weapons manufacturing and maintenance capability in Australia.

“This partnership exemplifies our enduring commitment to innovation, growth and creating a strategically important capability,“ said Ken Kota, Vice President, ADSCO, Lockheed Martin.

In readiness for making the GMLRS AURs and LPCs in Australia, a team of Lockheed Martin Australia engineers will be sent to the U.S. for specialised training at Lockheed Martin’s guided weapons production facilities before returning to Australia to begin this important work.

Lockheed Martin has a long and proud history in world-class, proven, long-range strike capabilities. Our team looks forward to ongoing collaboration with the Australian Defence Force and defence industry to accelerate the development of advanced guided weapon manufacturing capabilities in Australia”.

Thales Welcomes Government Commitment To Long Range Strike

Thales Australia strongly welcomes the Albanese Government’s announcement of a $37.4 million contract with Lockheed Martin Australia to see manufacturing of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) from 2025 in Australia, said CEO Thales Australia Jeff Connolly.

“This is big news for a sovereign guided weapons manufacturing capability – it’s great to see Government commitment and congratulations to Lockheed Martin,” said Mr Connolly.

“We at Thales stand ready to support this important national defence capability – we are deeply invested in domestic guided weapons capability.

“From rocket motor development, propulsion and payload, we want to do our part to help Government and our industry partners realise the vision by 2025.

“Yesterday’s announcement is a crucial step forward,” Mr Connolly said.

In 2021 Thales Australia invested $6 million in new state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing equipment at the Commonwealth owned Mulwala facility in regional New South Wales, to rapidly accelerate sovereign guided weapons manufacturing capability.

The company’s investment in new large-scale preparation and mixing equipment will enable a 500% increase in the size of rocket motors able to be manufactured at Mulwala, supporting production of advanced guided weapons and hypersonic weapons.

Thales Australia is the nation’s largest manufacturer of munitions, propellant and military explosives and manages the government owned contractor operated (GOCO) sites in Benalla, Victoria and Mulwala, New South Wales employing over 650 skilled staff to manufacture munitions systems for the ADF and allied forces.

Thales in Australia is a trusted partner of the Australian Defence Force and is also present in commercial sectors ranging from air traffic management and ground transport systems to security systems and services.

Thales in Australia employs over 4,300 people directly and supports over 2,051 job along its Australian supply chain.  Since 2018 Thales Australia has spent over $1.9 billion with local Australian businesses.