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Australia will begin manufacturing Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles this month following the opening of a new production facility at Port Wakefield in South Australia.
The site, developed in partnership between Lockheed Martin Australia and the Department of Defence, marks a major step in the Albanese government’s push to build a sovereign guided weapons industry and expand advanced manufacturing capability. Full-rate production of GMLRS missiles is scheduled to begin by late 2025.
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said the launch of domestic missile production represented a “major step in building the industrial strength our nation needs”.
“It’s about creating advanced manufacturing capability that will serve Australia for decades to come,” Minister Marles said.
The project will directly create about 20 manufacturing jobs at Port Wakefield and support hundreds more across the national supply chain.
“This factory is part of a bigger picture – growing a high-tech industry that supports skilled jobs, drives innovation and strengthens Australia’s economy. It’s a clear example of what a future made in Australia looks like,” Minister Marles said.
GMLRS is a precision-strike weapon fired from the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) acquired for the Army under its long-range fires program.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said the opening of the facility delivered on the government’s commitment to stand up a sovereign missile manufacturing sector.
“It’s about jobs for locals and a future made in Australia,” Minister Conroy said.
The announcement also marks a significant step in the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise, meeting the production timeline outlined by the government last year. The Port Wakefield factory was designed and built by Intract Australia, an Indigenous-owned and operated company, and completed in just under seven months.
“This is a significant milestone and a proud moment for Australia,” Minister Conroy said. “It will make us more self-reliant, strengthen our national security, reaffirm our growing collaboration with the United States on guided weapons and explosive ordnance, and provide the ADF with long-range strike capabilities to help keep Australians safe.”
Once operational, the Port Wakefield facility will become only the second site in the world to manufacture GMLRS missiles, alongside Lockheed Martin’s plant in Camden, Arkansas. Officials said this development will deepen Australia–US defence ties and open new export opportunities.
Patrick Mason, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Army for Defense Exports and Cooperation, said the opening represented a “transformative milestone in US–Australia defence cooperation”.
The first group of Australian workers has already completed technical training at the Camden plant, accelerating skills transfer and building local expertise.
“This partnership not only strengthens our shared commitment to regional security but demonstrates the power of allied innovation in building resilient defence supply chains,” Mason said.
Paula Hartley, vice president, tactical missiles, Lockheed Martin, welcomed this strategic endeavour to bring advanced manufacturing technology to Australia, “The completion of this state-of-the-art facility marks a key milestone for the Australian government’s GWEO Enterprise. By establishing domestic production of GMLRS, we are strengthening sovereign capability, ensuring full compatibility with US inventories.”
James Heading, director and general manager, missiles and fire control, Lockheed Martin Australia, reiterated the company’s commitment to delivering on the GWEO objectives, adding, “We are committed to establishing a viable and sustainable guided weapons manufacturing industry in Australia.”
The initiative forms part of the Albanese government’s plan to invest up to $21 billion over the next decade in long-range strike systems and the manufacture of long-range munitions in Australia.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
