iscover
Defence has teased new details about possible industrialised machine gun manufacturing in New South Wales for the Australian Defence Force.
Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group deputy secretary Chris Deeble, commenting in public submissions for local heritage listing in Lithgow, raised the potential for large-scale manufacturing at Lithgow Small Arms Factory outside Sydney in New South Wales.
“(Since October last year) the Australian government announced we would provide 3,500 rifles to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, along with other initiatives in support of our mutual defence agreement under the Pukpuk Treaty. These rifles will be produced in the Lithgow Small Arms Factory with economic benefit to the local community,” he said.
“Defence has also commenced negotiations with Thales to industrialise machine gun manufacture at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory to improve supply chain resilience and assure this capability for the Australian Defence Force.
“This significant investment in Australian industry supports our Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities.”
It’s understood that commercial negotiations remain ongoing with Thales Australia, a subsidiary of Thales Group.
The Australian Defence Force has previously used 5.56mm Para Minimi light support weapons, 7.62mm Maximi machine guns, 12.7mm M2 Browning machine guns and 7.62mm MAG 58 general support machine guns among other support weaponry across its branches.
“Defence is actively implementing the 2024 Defence Industry Development Strategy by strengthening sovereign capability, including small arms manufacturing,” according to a Defence spokesperson.
“Through the existing Armaments Fleet Upgrade and Repair contract with Thales Australia, Defence is exploring ways to improve the local content of existing capabilities, and broader industrialisation of in-service machine guns to improve supply chain resilience and preparedness.”
