Australia Boosts Domestic Weapons Production with Major Investment in Missile and Artillery Manufacturing
The Australian government has announced a $316 million partnership with Lockheed Martin to establish a large-scale weapons manufacturing plant, aiming to produce 4,000 guided, multiple-launch rocket systems annually by later in the decade. In collaboration with Thales, the government will also enhance artillery shell production at the Commonwealth-owned Benalla facility in Victoria. By 2028, this site is projected to produce 15,000 rounds of 155mm artillery shells per year, with capacity to scale up to 100,000 rounds if needed.
Australia’s push for domestic production is partly fuelled by delays in global procurement and concerns over the depletion of weapon supplies in international conflicts, including Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. According to Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy, demand has often outpaced production, highlighting the need for a more self-sustaining defence industry. “We are entering a ‘modern missile age,’ marked by rapid advances in technology and a strategic environment lacking in transparency and reassurance,” Conroy stated, referencing China’s substantial military build-up and long-range capabilities. This changing global landscape has underscored Australia’s need to enhance its defence capabilities, despite its geographic distance from traditional conflict zones.
To strengthen Australia’s defence infrastructure, the government has earmarked $22 million over the next three years for developing rocket motor production domestically. This move is part of a broader strategy to enable the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to engage potential threats at extended ranges, deterring potential adversaries. Conroy outlined plans for the navy, army, and air force to achieve strike capabilities extending to over 2,500 km, 1,000 km, and 900 km, respectively.
“Long-range strike capability is central to our deterrence strategy, allowing the ADF to hold adversary forces at risk from greater distances,” Conroy told the National Press Club. He emphasized that the rapid consumption of weapons in recent conflicts, such as the deployment of seven years’ worth of anti-tank missiles in the first month of Russia’s invasion, underscores the importance of Australia’s ability to produce and maintain its own guided weapons and explosive ordnance.
In line with this strategy, over $70 billion has been allocated across the next decade to strengthen Australia’s missile defence systems, long-range weaponry, and support capabilities. Conroy addressed a misconception that domestic manufacturing slows down the defence supply chain, arguing that producing weapons locally, such as naval strike missiles, would in fact provide the ADF with faster access to these resources compared to relying on overseas production facilities.
As part of this defence overhaul, the government is procuring more than 200 Tomahawk cruise missiles for the navy’s Hobart-class destroyers, scheduled for deployment by the end of 2024. Additionally, options to equip the Hunter-class frigates with Tomahawks are under review. Conroy also highlighted the fast-tracking of other essential military resources, including frigates, infantry fighting vehicles, and landing craft, to fortify Australia’s defence posture in the face of an evolving global threat landscape.
