A ‘topping out’ ceremony was held on 19 May 2026 at the Kongsberg Missile Factory at Astra Aerolab Precinct, Newcastle Airport, marking a construction milestone for this complex manufacturing and maintenance facility.
"The construction of the Kongsberg Missile Factory, the first Naval Strike Missile and Joint Strike Missile factory outside of Norway, is on track and well advanced. This milestone reflects the strength of collaboration with our delivery partners. Reaching the highest point of construction is a significant achievement and a testament to the teams on the ground driving this project forward. KONGSBERG Australia will occupy the Kongsberg Missile Factory in Q1 2027," Kongsberg Australia, Managing Director, John Fry, said.
The event brought together Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy; Chief Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance, AIRMSHL Leon Philips; Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Australia, Erik Svedahl; project partners Multiplex and Newcastle Airport, members of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Hunter Business Community to recognise the progress of the project and its significance.
“Today’s Topping Out highlights the important role Astra Aerolab and the Hunter region plays in supporting Australia’s sovereign defence industry. With the support of our partner Multiplex, we are proud to be developing this facility to support KONGSBERG Australia and the Commonwealth with this nationally significant project," CEO Newcastle Airport, Linc Horton, stated.
The topping out ceremony – a long-standing construction tradition – symbolises the building’s construction reaching its highest point and was marked with the installation of a ceremonial tree, representing growth, resilience and the enduring legacy of the project.
“We are proud to be delivering this highly secure facility in support of Australia’s defence capabilities. The Kongsberg Missile Factory builds on Multiplex’s global track record in delivering complex, secure government infrastructure, and we look forward to completing the project early next year," NSW Regional Managing Director Multiplex, David Ghannoum, highlighted.
Construction will now progress through the final stages ahead of completion in early 2027.