Australia and the United States have signed a Joint Statement of Intent and opened a new joint office to enhance bilateral cooperation in the co-production of guided weapons domain.
“This Statement of Intent reaffirms the strength of our longstanding alliance with the United States and our mutual interest in contributing to regional and international security," Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, said.
The Australian Government has invested approximately $21 billion over the decade to establish a sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise.
“This milestone is a clear demonstration of our shared commitment to building a resilient and interoperable industrial capacity for both Australia and the United States," Conroy stated.
The signing of the Joint Statement of Intent with the US Department of War and Lockheed Martin Corporation in Washington DC marks a milestone in Australia’s efforts to build a sovereign GWEO Enterprise.
The signing of statement will pave the way for further co-development and production of critical long-range fires, beginning with variants across the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) family of munitions and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM).
This statement has also acknowledged that for guided weapons manufacturing in Australia to be a viable and sustainable capability, Australia will need to produce guided weapon quantities beyond the demands of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Australia is on track for the production of GMLRS munitions before the end of 2025, with a view to manufacturing more advanced weapons in the future.
The statement signing has come as Australia and the US deepen cooperation on the PrSM program with the opening of a joint office in Huntsville, Alabama. The dedicated facility will serve as the central hub for coordination between Australia and the US on the acquisition and development of the PrSM capability and will oversee its production and sustainment.