Chief of the ADF’s GWEO Enterprise AIRMSHL Leon Phillips, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy, and a senior Lockheed Martin official at December’s opening of the Port Wakefield facility. Photo: Defence.
Another key step in Australia’s ambitious plans to manufacture advanced missile systems in Australia has been realised, with the commencement of GMLRS missile assembly in Adelaide.
On 5 December Lockheed Martin Australia commenced assembly of the missiles at its new Port Wakefield site in Adelaide. The milestone is part of the ambitious Sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) plan to make Australia more self-sufficient in the supply of advanced weapons, and for Australian industry to get a foot in the door to supply advanced components back into global supply chains.
Lockheed Martin said the fit-out of the Defence-owned Port Wakefield Missile Assembly Facility was completed as part of the Guided Weapons Production Capability Risk Reduction Activity under the GWEO Plan. The missiles will be assembled from components supplied from the company’s global supply chain, including an increasing number of locally manufactured components as production matures.
The new facility will see Australian production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) All Up Rounds and Launch Pod Containers. The GMLRS is a 70-km range precision-guided munition used by the Australian Army’s new High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launch vehicles. HIMARS is also in use by the US, and many other operators in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
The start of local assembly follows a year of training for Australian engineers at Lockheed Martin production facilities in the US, and the secondment of US staff to Port Wakefield to oversee the start of local production.
Paula Hartley, Vice-president, Tactical Missiles, Lockheed Martin welcomed this strategic endeavour to bring advanced manufacturing technology to Australia.
“The completion of this state-of-the-art facility marks a key milestone for the Australian Government’s GWEO Enterprise,” she said.
“By establishing domestic production of GMLRS, we are strengthening sovereign capability, ensuring full compatibility with US inventories.
“This facility was built and commissioned in record time,” she added.
“I commend everyone involved in the delivery of this facility, including the GWEO Group, Aurecon, Intract, and Defence’s Security Estate Group for their professionalism and hard work during the planning and construction.”
Australian, US, and Singaporean HIMARS launch a salvo of GMLRS rockets at the 2025 Exercise Talisman Saber. Photo: Defence.
Lockheed Martin Australia Director and General Manager, Missiles and Fire Control James Heading stated the company’s commitment to delivering on the GWEO objectives.
“We are committed to establishing a viable and sustainable guided weapons manufacturing industry in Australia,” he said.
“The long‑term goal for Lockheed Martin Australia is to establish a robust, versatile, and resilient supply chain where we are self‑sufficient and can rely upon Australian industry to deliver what is needed in support of the GWEO plan. To date, Lockheed Martin Australia has awarded contracts to Thales Australia, Marand, AW Bell, and Moog Australia to advance guided weapons manufacturing in Australia.
“Lockheed Martin has a long and successful history in the development of world‑class, proven, long‑range strike capabilities,” he added.
“Our team looks forward to ongoing collaboration with government, Defence, industry, and academia for the establishment of guided weapons manufacturing capabilities.”
Defence Minister Richard Marles said the start of missile production in Australia was a major step in building Australia’s industrial strength.
“It’s about creating advanced manufacturing capability that will serve Australia for decades to come,” he said.
“This factory is part of a bigger picture – growing a high-tech industry that supports skilled jobs, drives innovation and strengthens Australia’s economy. It’s a clear example of what a future made in Australia looks like.
“Producing these missiles in Australia demonstrates both the strength of our alliance with the United States and the capability of Australian industry.”
The opening of the Port Wakefield facility comes ahead of the start of production of Kongsberg JSM and NSM anti-ship missiles at Williamtown near Newcastle in 2027, and future plans to assemble and manufacture other systems under the GWEO effort.
