The Australian government has announced plans for further investments in developing an indigenous guided weapon subsystems and rocket motor manufacturing capability to support advanced missile production within the country.
The Department of Defence (DoD) said in a 16 September statement that the government will invest an initial A$22 million over the next three years to develop rocket motors, which is says are a critical component for guided weapons including the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) which are expected to be manufactured in Australia from 2025.
The DoD added that it expects a rocket motor complex to commence operations by the end of the decade, and is underpinned by the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise is being funded by up to A$21 billion over the decade through the 2024 Integrated Investment Program
The Australian government also announced on the same day a separate A$60 million plan to develop the next generation of sub-systems and components for guided weapons such as hypersonic and long-range strike missiles over the next five years.
This effort supports various industry initiatives, including the delivery of prototypes of critical components such seeker, fuze, and warhead subsystems, and complements the ongoing work under the Advanced Rocket Motor Technology Demonstrator program.
“This program is an endorsement of Australian ingenuity,” said Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy.
“Making solid rocket motors in Australia will build on Australia’s proud history as a manufacturing nation and contribute to a future made in Australia,” added Conroy.
The latest announcements follow the contract award in early September to Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to deliver the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) for the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) F-35A aircraft. The initial contract is worth about A$142 million.
by Jr Ng
