Lockheed Martin, Thales advance GWEO manufacturing ambitions

Lockheed Martin Australia has furthered its preparedness for Australia’s future Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise, linking with French group Thales Australia and infrastructure consultancy Conscia.

LMA announced it will open a new facility in partnership with Thales in Mulwala, NSW for ‘the development and production of various manufacturing activities’.

At the same time, also at Land Forces 2022, LMA said it had selected infrastructure advisory firm, Conscia, as a strategic business partner to plan potential future locations for central manufacturing.

LMA’s Director of Programs Strategic Capabilities Office for Missiles and Fire Control James Heading said: “Lockheed Martin Australia and Thales Australia have unique and complementary backgrounds and expertise in the manufacture and delivery of weapons capabilities that together will provide further impetus for the Australian Government’s objective of expanding the national defence industrial and manufacturing capability.

“It will bring Australia a step closer to a national guided weapons capability as well as set us up for potential future export of Australian manufactured products.”

Thales Australia currently manages the Commonwealth owned facility at Mulwala and have made a significant investment in state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing equipment at the site.

Thales Australia’s Chief Executive Jeff Connolly, said: “We are committed to investing in the industrial capability and technology necessary to support the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Australian Government’s ambition to accelerate the creation of a Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise, boosting skilled jobs and helping secure Australia’s national defence capabilities.”

The Mulwala site is the first co-located presence for Lockheed Martin in Australia.

Heading said: “We have also commenced work to identify other potential industrial sites and are positioning to have sustained in-country manufacturing and strong partnerships in place as soon as possible”.

This work will be performed by Conscia.

With expertise in the planning, delivery and accreditation of sensitive facilities and infrastructure for Defence, Canberra-based Conscia will identify potential future locations for central manufacturing.

Heading said: “We’re excited to be partnering with Conscia, an Australian veteran-owned business with deep expertise in the planning, delivery and accreditation of facilities and infrastructure,” Mr Heading said.

“In consideration is the transfer of significant technology in critical capability areas – accelerating the development of advanced guided weapon manufacturing in Australia.”

Selected as a Strategic Industry Partner in the development of the GWEO Enterprise, Lockheed Martin Australia is also expanding and opening dedicated administrative program offices in Canberra and Mulwala in anticipation of supporting the delivery of various manufacturing activities.

More reading:
THALES MAKES SECOND BIG INVESTMENT IN AUSTRALIAN FACTORIES

Picture: Thales Mulwala