Defence extends NIOA ammunition partnership

Australian owned defence prime contractor NIOA has confirmed the extension of its partnership with Defence which it says will ‘future proof’ supply surety of advanced artillery rounds to the Australian Army.

At a time of unprecedented worldwide demand for 155mm ammunition, the Brisbane company has locked in another five-year term to supply the Assegai suite of munitions under the LAND 17-1C.2 Future Artillery Ammunition (FAA) programme.

The modular Assegai ammunition system of projectiles, propelling charges, fuzes and primers can be configured in many ways to increase lethality and range for training and operational purposes.

Over the past five years, NIOA and supply partners JUNGHANS Microtec GmbH, Nitrochemie Aschau GmbH and Rheinmetall Denel Munitions have worked in close collaboration with Defence to deliver and integrate this artillery system into the Army’s M777A2 howitzers and are preparing for integration into K9 Protected Mobile Fires platforms.

Projectile variants include conventional HE, Insensitive Munition High Explosive (IHE), IHE Pre-Fragmented (PFF), screening smoke, illumination (infrared and visual), base-bleed and Extended Range Velocity Enhance (V-LAP), practice and inert projectiles.

NIOA Australia and New Zealand CEO Ben James welcomed the LAND 17-1C.2 deed extension, saying the new partnership would capitalise on a highly successful LAND 17 Program and a key period for ADF capability.

James said: “The LAND 17 FAA program will deliver a step change in reach, coverage and flexibility for the ADF’s artillery capability.

“NIOA welcomes this significant deed extension and looks forward to working with Defence to deliver against accelerated preparedness objectives.”

A key recommendation of the recent Defence Strategic Review (DSR) was to accelerate and shore up supply of critical munitions and projectiles which have been included in a $2.5 billion investment in Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO).

The joint venture Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions (RNM) shell forging factory in Maryborough, Queensland recently shipped its first consignment of export 155mm shells to Germany.

Picture: NIOA