Marand wins missile system contract

Engineering group Marand has won a contract from Kongsberg Defence Australia (KDAu) for the production of launch ramp systems for the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile.

The project will involve large scale fabrication of the launch ramps that will be fitted to Royal Australian Navy ships and support the Launcher Missile Module (LMM).

The federal government has selected Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile to replace the Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile capability on the RAN’s ANZAC Class Frigates and Hobart Class Destroyers.

Under this contract, Marand will manufacture the units at its Geelong site, with Marand’s capability benefitting in high specification welding and large-scale manufacturing.

It will also leverage a grant received last year under the Modern Manufacturing Initiative focused on Welding Excellence.

Kongsberg Defence Australia’s General Manager John Fry said the fifth generation, long-range, precision strike weapon was an important maritime strike capability for the Navy.

Fry said: “As we increase our Australian presence, Kongsberg Defence Australia is focused on expanding our local manufacturing base, and partnering with key suppliers such as Marand, to deliver high
quality competitive sub-assemblies into our final production line.”

Marand CEO Rohan Stocker said that increased capability in welding fabrication methods would be highly relevant to future maritime and land programmes. A

Stocker said: “After many years of successful exports to Kongsberg in Norway as part of the F-35 programme, we are delighted to be engaged directly with Kongsberg Defence Australia and contribute to the increase of strike capability for the Royal Australian Navy.”

Under the contract, production of the launch ramp systems will start immediately

Picture: Kongsberg Defence Australia