Kongsberg opens new headquarters in Adelaide
Kongsberg Defence Australia has officially opened its new $25 million Australian manufacturing headquarters at Technology Park in Mawson Lakes, Adelaide.
Government orders JSM missile, but no manufacture locally
The federal government has signed a $142 million contract with Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to acquire the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) air-launched cruise missile from 2025. The JSM is designed to allow the missile to fit into the F-35A Lightning II internal weapon bay, preserving the aircraft’s stealth characteristics. With a range of…
Australia buys foreign missiles with no offsets, no tech transfer
By Peter Roberts We all know that Australia is scrambling to build up its missile defences, but it is somewhat galling to find the latest US$100 million purchase involves no local production whatsoever, and no technology transfer of any sort to Australians. Well that’s not entirely true, they will teach us how to fire the…
Defence awards $500 million battle management contract
The federal government has signed a $500 million contract with Lockheed Martin Australia to deliver the next phase of the Joint Air Battle Management System that synchronises air and missile defence operations across air, sea and land operations. LMA was named in October as the strategic partner to deliver the project, known as AIR6500, which…
EOS demonstrates counter drone capabilities in the US
EOS Defense Systems USA has participated in the US Army’s Project Convergence Capstone 4 (PC-C4) at the Army’s National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California. The subsidiary of Electro Optic Systems Limited demonstrated the capabilities of an R600 Remote Weapon Station (pictured) equipped with a Northrop Grumman M230LF cannon, coaxial machine gun, and four Javelin…
Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed
Australia and US collaborate on ballistic missile interception Australia has supported the United States as it undertook a successful missile defence test off the coast of Hawaii. Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force assets supported the test conducted by the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the US Navy. The US test involved…
Lockheed’s first Australian missiles to be assembled in 2024 – report
The first Australian produced Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles – well known for their use by Ukraine – will be produced at a facility in western Sydney by the end of 2024, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The article, which details US efforts to boost missile manufacturing by its…
Stahl Metall to make cable assemblies for the Naval Strike Missile
Knoxfield, Melbourne manufacturer Stahl Metall has entered into a new contract with Kongsberg Defence Australia (KDAu) for the manufacture and delivery of Electrical Control systems and Cable and Harness Systems for the Naval Strike Missile (NSM). Kongsberg has linked with a number of local manufacturers as it moves to manufacture the msisile under Project SEA…
Bigger fleet, more firepower, jobs for decades – just add dollars!
By Peter Roberts It is amazing what a little cold hard cash – an extra $11 billion bringing the total to $38 billion over 10 years to be exact – can do. The federal government has tried to work wonders by piling the cash into the defence budget to achieve three of what seemed like…
Axiom awarded missile ground support contract
Axiom Precision Manufacturing has announced a new contract with Kongsberg Defence Australia (KDAu) for the manufacture and delivery of ground support equipment for the Naval Strike Missile (NSM). Under SEA 1300 Phase 1 – Navy Guided Weapons, KONGSBERG’s NSM will replace the Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile capability on the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) ANZAC class frigates…