Kongsberg breaks ground on missile manufacturing facility

Kongsberg Defence Australia has broken ground for its highly anticipated missile factory in Williamtown, near Newcastle in NSW which will manufacture and maintain long-range strike weapons for the Australian Defence Force.

The state-of-the-art facility is located within the Astra Aerolab Business Park defence and aerospace precinct, directly adjoining Newcastle Airport and the home to the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter RAAF Base Williamtown.

The Kongsberg missile factory will manufacture and maintain its Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and Joint Strike Missile (JSM) – advanced, fifth generation cruise missiles capable of both maritime strike and land attack being acquired by the ADF.

The Williamtown factory will prioritise the needs of the ADF whilst providing capacity to meet growing global demand, following an expansion in Norway and the recent announcement of a further missile factory planned for the US.

Kongsberg Defence Australia’s Managing Director John Fry said: “This project is a testament to the Commonwealth of Australia’s commitment to establishing domestic production of Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO).

“As a Strategic Partner of the GWEO Enterprise we are delighted to be involved in this endeavour in support of the defence of our nation and its interests.

“We have worked collaboratively with the GWEO Group, NSW State Government, and Newcastle Airport to get to the position where we can break ground on this project of national importance.”

The Kongsberg facility will create more than 500 jobs in the Hunter region and will inject $100 million in economic benefits, as well as create opportunities for local Australian suppliers to support production and manufacturing of the weapons.

Preparatory site works of this facility have begun with construction expected to be completed by the middle of 2026. Missile manufacturing will begin from 2027, ramping up to full rate production by the end of 2028.

The NSM is an anti-ship and land attack cruise missile first deployed in 2012 by the Norwegian Navy.

The air-launched JSM is being integrated on the F-35A fighter aircraft, and is the only maritime strike and land attack cruise missile capable of being carried in the aircraft’s internal weapons bay.

The NSM has been selected by 13 nations, including Australia and Five Eyes partner nations the US, UK and Canada.

The JSM has so far been selected by Norway, Japan, Australia, and the US Air Force.

Picture: Kongsberg Defence Australia