SPOTLIGHT: Building Australia’s guided weapons and explosive ordnance enterprise, with Ken Kota and James Heading

Joint-capabilities
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By: Robyn Tongol

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Ken Kota, vice-president, and James Heading, director of programs, Australian Defence Strategic Capabilities Office, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, join host Liam Garman to unpack the company’s role in building Australia’s sovereign missile capability.

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Ken Kota, vice-president, and James Heading, director of programs, Australian Defence Strategic Capabilities Office, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, join host Liam Garman to unpack the company’s role in building Australia’s sovereign missile capability.

  

  

  • The trio begin the podcast discussing why it is fundamental for Australia to develop a sovereign missile capability, and the company’s role in building Australian expertise in this field through the Australian Defence Strategic Capabilities Office.
  • Kota and Heading then explain how the company’s guided weapons solutions, including the HIMARS, have been so successful on the modern battlefield.
  • The podcast wraps up unpacking how a sovereign missile capability fits into the company’s broader joint all domain operations offering, and how Australian SMEs can play a part in this supply chain.

Editor’s note: This podcast was recorded prior to the Commonwealth confirming the acquisition of HIMARS in January.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

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Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: PODCAST: Defence policy, domestic manufacturing and military culture, with Senator Malcolm Roberts
Episode 10: SPOTLIGHT: LAND 156, counter-drone warfare and electronic warfare capability, with Department 13’s Ben Westgarth
Episode 9: PODCAST: Australia’s first 3D printed autonomous USV, with Josh Wigley and Harry Hubbert
Episode 8: PODCAST: Australia’s shipbuilding future, landing craft pipeline and autonomous vessels, with Austal CEO Paddy Gregg
Episode 7: CONTESTED GROUND: Assessing the fallout and implications of the latest Trump–Xi meeting for Iran, Taiwan and Australia
Episode 6: PODCAST: Missile manufacturing, Collins LOTE upgrades and submarine base east
Episode 5: PODCAST: Aerobatics, military aviation and Australian air shows, with Paul Bennet
Episode 4: CONTESTED GROUND: Australia and the West must ask themselves new questions in the face of the modern world, with Robbin Laird
Episode 3: PODCAST: Black Hawk capability, B-21 bomber debate, and upcoming budget
Episode 2: PODCAST: Supermarine Spitfire, warbird aviation and modern aerial innovation, with Keith Russell