Lockheed Martin Australia has officially begun operations at a newly inaugurated guided weapons facility in Port Wakefield, South Australia, marking a pivotal advancement in the domestic production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles for the Australian Defence Force.
The facility is set to manufacture GMLRS all-up rounds and launch pod containers, facilitating Australia’s ambition to establish a self-sufficient guided weapons manufacturing industry. While initial production will utilize imported components from the United States, the program aims to progressively increase Australian content over time, with plans for local production of key components such as rocket motors, warheads, and other essential subsystems.
Notably, the Port Wakefield site becomes the first location outside of the United States tasked with producing GMLRS all-up rounds and launch pod containers. The establishment of this facility is anticipated to generate approximately 20 new manufacturing jobs directly within the site, while also supporting hundreds of additional jobs throughout Australia’s emerging guided weapons supply chain.
Paula Hartley, Vice President of Tactical Missiles at Lockheed Martin, emphasized the significance of this facility in reinforcing the Australian Government’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise. “The completion of this state-of-the-art facility marks a key milestone for the Australian Government’s GWEO Enterprise,” she noted. Hartley further stated, “By establishing domestic production of GMLRS, we are strengthening sovereign capability, ensuring full compatibility with US inventories.”
The GMLRS, which is a precision-guided munition deployed from the Australian Army’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, boasts an impressive strike range of over 70 kilometers (43 miles). Moreover, Australia and the United States are also progressing towards the domestic production of the Precision Strike Missile, which is capable of exceeding ranges of 600 kilometers (373 miles).
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles highlighted the importance of commencing missile production in Australia. He remarked, “Starting missile production in Australia this year is a major step in building the industrial strength our nation needs. It’s about creating advanced manufacturing capability that will serve Australia for decades to come.” Marles added that the local production of these missiles signifies both the robustness of the Australia-US alliance and the capabilities of the Australian industry.
