Defence, Thales negotiate industrialised machinegun manufacturing in NSW

Land

31 March 2026

Australian Army Reserve soldier Lance Corporal Bradley Psaroudis from 1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers fires a MAG 58 machinegun from a Hawkei protected mobility vehicle near Katherine in the Northern Territory during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Photo: Corporal Michael Currie

Defence has teased new details about possible industrialised machinegun manufacturing in NSW 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 NSW.

You’re out of free articles for this month

Username or Email

Password Forgot password?

Keep me signed in on this device.

First Name

Last Name

Mobile

Organisation Type

By becoming a member, I agree to receive information and promotional messages from Defence Connect. I can opt out of these communications at any time. For more information, please visit our Privacy Statement.

Need help signing up? Visit the Help Centre.

“(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 machinegun 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 machineguns, 12.7mm M2 Browning machineguns and 7.62mm MAG 58 general support machineguns 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.

VIEW ALL

“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 machineguns to improve supply chain resilience and preparedness.”

Robert Dougherty

Robert is a senior journalist who has previously worked for Seven West Media in Western Australia, as well as Fairfax Media and Australian Community Media in New South Wales. He has produced national headlines, photography and videography of emergency services, business, community, defence and government news across Australia. Robert graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Public Relations and Journalism at Curtin University, attended student exchange program with Fudan University and holds Tier 1 General Advice certification for Kaplan Professional. Reach out via email at

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

or via LinkedIn.

Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Defence Connect a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Defence Connect as a preferred news source.

Tags: