Lockheed and Thales combine for rocket motors

Lockheed Martin Australia and Thales Australia have signed a Teaming Agreement which could lead to the development and production of Solid Rocket Motors (SRM) for the Australian market.

The purpose of the agreement is to collaborate, qualify and produce Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Solid Rocket Motors and other components in support of the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise.

The Teaming Agreement production effort will perform jointly developed tasks to produce an Australian SRM System, as well as to explore supply chain options to establish Australian industrial capability for related components.

The collaboration will assess the possibility of future potential design, development, production or co-production of sub-components of the GMLRS missiles.

The companies said in a statement that the outcome ‘may include the domestic manufacture of SRMs ranging from simple rockets to large, complex strategic motors’.

Chief Executive Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand Warren McDonald said: “Lockheed Martin is already a world-leader in missile systems and sub-systems, and partnerships with experienced, world-class companies like Thales advance our ability to enable the achievement of the Australian Government’s objectives under the GWEO Enterprise.”

Lockheed Martin Australia and Thales have unique and complementary backgrounds and expertise in the manufacture and delivery of rockets and weapons capabilities.

In 2021, the companies signed a Teaming Agreement to cooperate in the design, development and production of Lockheed Martin’s Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile – Surface Launch variant, with a specific focus on booster and rocket motor technologies.

Building upon the 2021 teaming agreement, the new agreement will support Lockheed Martin’s identification of Australian supply chain opportunities.

This approach intends to support local manufacture of guided weapons and allow Lockheed Martin to further strengthen Australia’s national defence industrial base.

Thales Australia’s Chief Executive Officer Jeff Connolly said: “This is AUKUS in action.

“Close collaboration with industry leaders like Lockheed Martin is essential for Australia to domestically manufacture weapon sub-sections and components, which was identified as a priority in the 2024 Defence Industry Development Strategy.

“Thales’ partnership with Lockheed Martin is an important step in developing options for Commonwealth consideration toward an accelerated sovereign GMLRS capability for the Australian Defence Force.”

Picture: Pictured left to right: Ross Lederhose, VP Sales and Marketing, Thales Australia, Jeff Connolly, CEO Thales Australia, Ken Kota, VP International Integration, Lockheed Martin, Duncan Watt, Key Account Manager, Guided Weapons, Thales Australia and James Heading, Director of Programs, Strategic Capabilities Office, Missiles and Fire Control, Lockheed Martin Australia.