Australia and the US have taken the next step joint production of advanced guided weapons, signing a Joint Statement of Intent for Australian manufacture of GMLRS and later PrSM missiles.
Both are launched from HIMARS vehicles, now entering service with the Australian Army and a core element of the Australian Defence Force’s growing capabilities for long range strike.
Significantly, more advanced versions of PrSM (Precision Strike Missile), will be able to strike ship targets more than 1,000 kilometres from the Australian mainland.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the signing of the Joint Statement of Intent with the United States Department of War and Lockheed Martin Corporation in Washington this week marked a significant milestone in Australia’s efforts to build a sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise.
“The signing of this Joint Statement of Intent paves 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),” the Minister said.
In addition to signing the joint statement, Minister Conroy announced the opening of a joint office in Huntsville, Alabama.
He said this facility would serve as a central hub for coordination between Australia and the US on development of the PrSM capability and will oversee its production and sustainment.
Through the GWEO Enterprise, Australia is planning to start manufacturing precision guided munitions (PGMs), not done in Australia since the 1960s when Australia and the UK produced the Malkara, a first-generation anti-tank guided missile.
Step one is the partnership with Lockheed Martin to produce the GMLRS missiles, with the first set to be produced by the end of the year from US supplied components.
GMLRS is the basic HIMARS missile. Guided by GPS and INS, these have a range greater than 70 kilometres. Each HIMARS vehicle carries of pod of six GMLRS missiles. These have proved highly effective in Ukraine.
PrSM is a larger missile with greater range.
PrSM Increment 1, with GPS/INS seeker, has a ‘nominal’ range of 500 kilometres. PrSM Increments 2, 3 and 4 feature a multi-mode seekers with ability to hit moving targets at sea. Range is greater than 1,000 kilometres.
Each HIMARS vehicle carries a pod with two PrSMs.
Conroy said the Statement of Intent acknowledged that for guided weapons manufacturing in Australia to be viable and sustainable, Australia would need to produce quantities well beyond the requirements of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
That means supplying Australia supplying locally produced weapons to the US and other allies. Australian production would be integrated into the US-led global supply chain.
“…as identified in the Australian GWEO plan, we intend to begin construction of a new high-rate production facility in Australia,” he said.
“The Australian weapons manufacturing complex (AWMC) will be flexible and scalable, expand global manufacturing capacity and reduce dependence on overseas infrastructure.
“Construction of the AWMC will be in addition to the Kongsberg missile factory in Williamtown that is already under construction. That will be manufacturing Joint Strike Missiles and Naval Strike Missiles.
The government has yet to announce where that facility will be located.
He said it would be in addition to the existing government‑owned munitions facilities at Benalla, Victoria, and Mulwala, NSW, which are operated by defence company Thales.