Australia invests in missile and ammunition manufacturing

The federal government today committed to two new Australian defence factories – one to manufacture Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS, pictured), and the second a new 155mm artillery ammunition forging plant.

The government did not reveal the cost of the new plants, except to say they were part of the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise – backed by an investment of up to $21 billion over the next decade.

Thales has been selected as the preferred tenderer to build a new domestic forging capability for 155mm M795 artillery ammunition used by Australia, the United States and other international partners for the M777A2 Light Towed Howitzer.

And the government in partnership with Lockheed Martin Australia committed to an Australian facility to manufacture GMLRS rocket systems.

The Thales project will create 550 jobs while the GMLRS facility is expected to create 70 local manufacturing jobs.

The Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy said: “By producing GMLRS at scale and investing in the development of a capable and resilient Defence industrial base to forge 155mm M795 artillery projectiles, Australia can be more self-reliant and able to accelerate the delivery of capability to the ADF, as well as our international partners.”

GMLRS is a long-range surface-to-surface precision strike capability that can be fired from High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launchers.

The new facility will enable Australia to produce viable volumes of GMLRS for global consumption, as reaffirmed at the 2024 Australia-United States Ministerial (AUSMIN) Consultations.

It will be capable of producing up to 4,000 GMLRS each year from 2029 – this represents more than a quarter of the current global production and more than 10 times the current ADF demand.

The new ammunition forge will be constructed at Commonwealth-owned Benalla Munitions Facility.

The forge will produce 15,000 rounds each year by 2028, with capacity to produce up to 100,000 for global consumption.

It will also be the first dedicated forge outside of the United States that will manufacture 155mm M795 artillery ammunition.

The Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP said: “The 2024 National Defence Strategy affirmed the need to invest in munitions to build stocks, strengthen supply chains and support a domestic manufacturing capability.

“Investment in a sovereign GWEO Enterprise that can produce and maintain priority weapons will support the ADF’s transformation to an integrated, focused force.”

Picture: Defence/High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System