CANBERRA, Australia: Australia announced plans to establish a domestic missile manufacturing industry as part of a $200 million investment to strengthen national defence capabilities.
According to Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy, this effort will enable the country to produce up to 4,000 guided multiple launch rocket systems (GMLRS) annually, collaborating with U.S. weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
The Australian facility is one of the first GMLRS production plants outside the United States, supporting the country’s strategy of “deterrence by denial” amid increasing Indo-Pacific tensions and U.S.-China rivalry.
In addition to the Lockheed partnership, Australia has contracted French company Thales to locally produce M795 artillery rounds for use in howitzers. This expansion in missile and ammunition manufacturing aims to address global concerns about weapon stockpiles, driven by factors like China’s recent missile tests in the Pacific and the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on defence supply chains. This move aligns with Australia’s April defence strategy and its nuclear-powered submarine agreement with the United States and Britain under AUKUS.
