Government targets Williamtown for $850m missile factory
Rod Thompson – Newcastle Weekly
A plan to manufacture and service missiles at Williamtown is expected to generate $100 million in economic benefits to the region.
The Australian Government revealed on Thursday 22 August of its intention to build a factory in the Newcastle Airport precinct, in partnership with Kongsberg Defence Australia.
Construction of the facility, anticipated to start later this year, represents a leap forward for the Australia Defence Force (ADF).
It’s understood Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) and Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) will be produced at the plant.
The $850 million project is also estimated to create more than 500 jobs in the construction phase and, once complete, secure employment for 100 people.
“This is about investing in our advanced, high-tech manufacturing industry and developing our sovereign defence industrial base in areas which have been identified as strategic priorities, which in turn means we can accelerate capability delivery to the ADF,” Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy said.
“We cannot deliver the generational uplift in capability outlined in the National Defence Strategy without our industry partners, and we look forward to working with Kongsberg Defence Australia as a Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Strategic Partner.”
The GWEO Enterprise is backed by a commitment of up to $21 billion over the coming decade through the government’s 2024 Integrated Investment Program.
It delivers on priorities in the 2024 National Defence Strategy to both develop the ADF’s ability to precisely strike targets at longer range and manufacture munitions in Australia.
The JSM – which can be fitted to the F-35A aircraft – and NSM are modern anti-ship cruise missiles designed to defeat highly-capable enemy warships.
Both can be deployed against land-based targets, too.
The NSM will enhance the maritime and land strike capabilities of Hobart class destroyers and Anzac class frigates, and replace the Harpoon anti-ship missile, supporting the increased lethality of the enhanced surface combatant fleet.
Locally, the announcement was welcomed by the Newcastle Liberals.
“Much like the previous government, it’s encouraging to see the Hunter is being recognised as an ideal location for defence industry development,” Lord Mayoral candidate Callum Pull said.
“It’s a significant moment for our city and our region.
“We look forward to the positive impact this project will have on our local economy and the future opportunities it will bring.
“The Greens once again demonstrated their lack of understanding of our national and regional interests by opposing crucial defence industry developments in the Hunter.”
