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Australian short-range guided weapons and specialist munitions manufacturer Ares Armaments Australia has signed a memorandum of understanding with US defence company Limitless Aeronautics.
Under the strategic partnership, Limitless Aeronautics will manufacture standard ammunition for Ares Armaments in the United States, enabling high-volume, sovereign-aligned production in the southern USA.
In parallel, Ares Armaments will establish its US offices early this year, strengthening on-ground presence and deepening engagement with American industry, government and allied partners.
“Together, we are building resilient supply chains that support justice, law enforcement, military and commercial requirements while creating local workforce opportunities and meaningful jobs,” according to a public statement from Ares Armaments.
“More than manufacturing, this memorandum of understanding reflects shared values, trusted relationships and a common commitment to quality, reliability and mission-critical outcomes. As global security environments evolve, partnerships like this matter.
“We are incredibly proud to be working alongside the Limitless team and excited to deliver real impact together in 2026 and beyond.”
Late last year, Ares Armaments also announced a memorandum of understanding with Aurora Labs (A3D) to advance research and development of design and rapid production techniques using exotic metals in small-arms ammunition and armaments.
Under the non-binding terms, A3D and Ares are expected to collaborate to accelerate research into the use of exotic metals in small-arms ammunition and armaments.
Initial focus will be on how alloys and A3D’s advanced metal processing capabilities can be used to produce lighter, stronger, more consistent and cost-effective components that improve performance, while adhering to strict safety and regulatory standards required by potential customers.
Both parties reportedly recognise the potential for significant scalability, as small-arms programs typically require large production volumes, providing A3D with an opportunity to potentially deploy its technology in a high-throughput manufacturing setting with substantial future commercial potential.
“This collaboration represents an existing expansion for the company and will allow us to apply our extensive manufacturing expertise to a high-volume, strategically important sector to further demonstrate the versatility of our technology in real-world applications,” said Rebekah Letheby, Aurora Labs chief executive officer.
“Working alongside an established and respected counter party such as Ares positives Aurora Labs to capitalise on a new commercial pathway that aligns with the national focus on onshore capability and advanced manufacturing.
“This partnership underscores the growing relevance of our technology across the defence industry and reinforces the company’s role in delivering innovative, high-performance manufacturing solutions in Australia which have grown from accepted research and development into product streams.”
Initial exploratory work has already commenced with information sharing between the two parties, while prototyping, first production and testing is anticipated in Q1 2026. Testing will be undertaken at Ares’ South Australian facilities prior to engagement with the group’s customer network across the defence industry.
Beyond technical collaboration, the partnership will also seek to engage with government and defence stakeholders to build industry awareness and support, showcasing Australia’s growing capability in advanced manufacturing and defence technology.
