Australian workforce will learn intricacies of long-range missile design, production
Tom Abke
Australia is backing its commitment to manufacture long-range guided missiles by 2025 with a government-led initiative to develop “a competent, skilled and educated workforce” that can design, test, produce, distribute and maintain the weapons.
Select military and defense industry personnel will receive training in pursuit of a master’s degree in explosive ordnance through the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) announced in July 2024. The goal is to prevent the ADF from relying solely on other nations for military equipment and expertise.
Students will learn fundamentals such as the chemistry, development and characteristics of explosive ordnance, along with how to properly handle hazardous materials and missile components.
The ADF also held community meetings about its plan to expand storage capacity for explosive ordnance and other military equipment at Defence Establishment Orchard Hills, near Sydney.
The GWEO Enterprise initiative gained momentum after the 33rd Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations in Brisbane in July 2023. The nations agreed to establish a flexible guided weapons production capability in Australia, focusing initially on the co-production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems by 2025, according to the U.S. Defense Department.
Budget approvals and contracts with defense firms have propelled the initiative forward.
“A responsible government has to ensure that Australia has sufficient supplies of munitions, and the industrial capacity to ensure we are not completely dependent on foreign supply,” Pat Conroy, Australia’s defense industry minister, said in May 2024. He cited Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine as an instance in which a sovereign nation suddenly needs munitions. The Australian government has committed up to $14.2 billion to GWEO over the next decade, he said.
An enhanced long-range missile capability was a central recommendation of the Defence Strategic Review, issued by the ADF in April 2023.
Investments so far include a $25 million contract between the ADF and Lockheed Martin Australia to manufacture the first batch of guided missiles in Australia and $150 million to refurbish two munition factories for additional arms production in Australia’s New South Wales and Victoria.
Conroy described the contract with Lockheed Martin as “a clear demonstration of the ongoing collaboration between Australia and the United States on Australia’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise.” The Australian manufacturing, he said, “will complement the acquisition of long-range precision strike capabilities and strengthen the ADF’s ability to protect Australia and its interests.”
Raytheon Australia is another GWEO Enterprise strategic partner. Australian defense firms Aurecon and Australian Missile Corp. are enterprise partners.
Additional GWEO commitments include $876 million for more than 200 Tomahawk cruise missiles for the Royal Australian Navy; $290 million for extended-range, anti-radiation guided missiles for the Royal Australian Air Force; and $1 billion to buy more long-range High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems for the Australian Army.
“Over time, as we prove our capability, our vision is to move into more complex weapons and uplift Australian companies into global supply chains,” Conroy said.
Tom Abke is a FORUM correspondent reporting from Singapore.
