Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy, says the establishment of a rocket motor manufacturing capability will improve the resilience of the ADF’s supply chains. Photos: ADF.
The Federal Government has called for submissions from industry to establish a domestic rocket motor manufacturing capability that could produce motors for advanced missile systems.
Announced on 16 September by Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy, an initial $22 million investment over three years is designed to boost Australia’s advanced high-tech manufacturing sector and enhance long‑range strike capabilities for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
The initiative is part of the government’s Future Made in Australia agenda, announced at this year’s Federal Budget, which it says will improve the resilience of supply chains, provide for greater strategic sovereignty, enhance export opportunities, and deliver broad economic and employment benefits.
The rocket motor announcement is part of Defence’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise, which is funded up to $21 billion to 2033 through the 2024 Integrated Investment Program (IIP).
It follows last month’s announcement that Kongsberg will establish a facility near Newcastle to manufacture Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) and Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) for the ADF, and a January 2024 commitment to assemble Lockheed Martin GMLRS missiles for the army’s new HIMARS long-range strike system.
Also under the GWEO Enterprise, the government announced it will invest up to $60 million over the next five years to develop guided-weapon sub-systems and components used on systems such as hypersonic and long-range strike.
It says this investment will enable partnerships between industry and Defence and allow the next generation of guided-weapon technologies to enter the supply chain of GWEO Strategic Partners – Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Kongsberg.
The rocket motor announcement is part of Defence’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise. Photo: ADF.
It says it will also deliver industry-manufactured prototypes of seeker, fuse and warhead sub-systems, and aligns with the work being done as part of the Advanced Rocket Motor Technology Demonstrator (ARMTD) program, which it says leverages collaboration from science and technology partner nations.
Mr Conroy said the announcements represented a leap forward for the Australian defence industry.
”This is another investment in a future made in Australia and the more than 100,000 Australians, including in regional Australia, that are benefiting from the government’s commitment to grow our sovereign defence industry and sovereign industrial base,” he said.
“This program is an endorsement of Australian ingenuity.
”Making solid rocket motors in Australia will build on Australia’s proud history as a manufacturing nation and contribute to a future made in Australia.”
