NIOA joins Aerojet Rocketdyne in guided weapons

Australian-owned defence prime NIOA has signed an agreement with US rocket and hypersonics company Aerojet Rocketdyne to explore the manufacturing of critical guided weapons components in Australia.

The agreement anticipates the future assembly and manufacture of rocket motors, boosters and warheads for munitions within the Aerojet Rocketdyne portfolio which covers a wide range of weapons within Australia’s sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise.

Aerojet Rocketdyne, part of global aerospace and defence technology company L3Harris Technologies made the announcement on the eve of the INDO PACIFIC 2023 international defence exhibition in Sydney.

The President, Aerojet Rocketdyne Ross Niebergall said: “As part of a world-leading technology company, Aerojet Rocketdyne is pleased to embark on this project to bring rocket motor and warhead manufacturing to Australia.

“Our company is uniquely positioned to provide the intellectual property for a wide range of propulsion systems used by the Commonwealth.

“Growing our capability in Australia will provide opportunities for Australian companies to contribute to the global supply chain for guided weapons.”

NIOA Group CEO Robert Nioa said the agreement would address critical munitions priorities for Australia.

Nioa said: “Ultimately we aim to create a multi-user rocket motor facility that will not only support our portfolio of offerings but will also have capacity and flexibility to support future strategic partners to meet the guided weapon demands as identified by the Australian Defence Force as well as adjacent industry sectors like space.

“This logical grouping of the main elements of the rocket motor, warhead and booster supply chains can deliver economies of scale that will maintain the production volumes needed to sustain critical skillsets.”

The Australian Government’s Defence Strategic Review released earlier this year called for the establishment of a domestic GWEO manufacturing capability.

Picture: NIOA Group