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The one-year anniversary of the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Plan has been commemorated with the opening of a Newcastle office with Kongsberg Defence Australia.
Last week marked the one-year anniversary of the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Plan. It is being celebrated through the opening of an office in Newcastle dedicated to the $850 million missile manufacturing deal with Kongsberg Defence Australia.
“Australian industry is at the heart of this plan, with more than $500 million set aside to uplift Australian companies and to help insulate us from global supply chain pressures,” said Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy.
The opening of the new Kongsberg office marks a significant milestone in the partnership and is expected to generate hundreds of jobs in the Hunter region and invest $100 million into the local economy.
This development will make Australia home to only the second facility in the world to manufacture the Joint Strike Missile and Naval Strike Missile.
The GWEO Plan, which launched in October last year, aims to uplift and strengthen Australia’s national defence industry and manufacturing capabilities, building on existing programs such as the National Defence Strategy and the Defence Industry Development Strategy.
Key points of action within the GWEO Plan include establishing Australia’s manufacturing and production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS), build a Naval Strike Missile and Joint Strike Missile factory in NSW by 2027, and commitment to acquire the Joint Strike Missile and additional stocks of advanced anti-radiation guided missiles with extended range.
“In just 12 months, Australia has come a long way towards sovereign missile manufacturing and increasing our long-range strike capabilities, backed by a commitment of up to $21 billion in the Defence Integrated Investment Program,” Minister Conroy said.
“By the end of this year, we will begin manufacturing Australia’s first guided missile on home soil – a significant feat that will strengthen sovereign Australian supply chains and get these weapons into the hands of the warfighter sooner.”
The GWEO will also see continued collaboration with the US Department of War, such as signing agreements to assemble GMLRS missiles, co-development and production of long-range fires, and the opening of an office in Alabama to serve as the hub for coordination between Australia and the United States for defence acquisition deals.
