Australia will manufacture missiles at home from 2025, thanks to another step forward by the Albanese Government, with Australia and the United States signing two memoranda of understanding.
The Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System Co-Assembly agreement enables the assembly of a first batch of this critical munition in Australia in 2025 and represents a key milestone towards co-production of viable volumes of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) in Australia for global consumption.
The 155mm Ammunition Co-Production MoU authorises the transfer of United States intellectual property, and aligns production standards for 155mm artillery ammunition, enabling greater cooperation on munitions between the Australian Defence Force and the United States Army and Marine Corps.
The Albanese Government has moved quickly towards establishing a local guided missile manufacturing facility through Defence's partnership with Lockheed Martin Australia, creating hundreds of new jobs.
The announcement of the two MOUs comes as the United States has also granted Congressional approval for the Foreign Military Sale of more than 300 GMLRS rounds to Australia.
The FMS approval is a $147 million investment from the Albanese Government and is part of our commitment to manufacturing GMLRS and supporting jobs in Australia from this year.
Under the Government's plans, a new facility will also be constructed, capable of manufacturing up to 4,000 GMLRS a year from 2029.
At the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations 2023, the United States affirmed its support for Australia's Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise and our plan to produce viable volumes of GMLRS for global consumption, establish a sovereign Australian solid rocket motor capability, and manufacture future guided weapons.
The United States also acknowledged Australia's GWEO Enterprise provides a pathway for the co-development, co-production and co-sustainment of critical long‑range fires and the component supply chains for both nations.
These projects are part of the Albanese Government's acceleration of longer-range strike capabilities in line with the 2024 National Defence Strategy and underpinned by tens of billions of dollars, including the $16-21 billion investment to establish the GWEO Enterprise and sovereign munitions manufacturing capabilities in Australia.
Quotes attributable to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles:
"The Albanese Government has been utterly determined to see the local manufacturing of guided missiles in Australia - it's good for our ADF and it's good for Defence industry and jobs.
"This is something that Minister Conroy and I have been determined to deliver, and prove that our actions match our words when it comes to GWEO."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy:
"This announcement delivers on the Albanese Government's commitment to a future made in Australia. It not only makes Australia safer but takes us towards being more self-sufficient while creating hundreds of well-paid, skilled jobs for locals.
"The Albanese Government is committed to reprioritising Defence capabilities in line with the National Defence Strategy, including developing the ADF's ability to precisely strike targets at longer range.
"This is an important step towards the establishment of domestic guided weapons manufacturing in Australia. It will complement the acquisition of long-range precision-strike capabilities and strengthen the ADF's ability to protect Australia and its interests."
