Nioa and US aerospace and defence company General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GDOTS) have signed an agreement to collaborate on the potential supply of 70mm rockets to equip the Australian Army’s new Apache helicopters.
“This agreement further extends the NIOA/GDOTS relationship and represents a key sovereign munitions production opportunity in support of the ADF and forward-deployed US troops," Nioa Australia-New Zealand CEO, Ben James, said.
“The 2024 Defence Industrial Development Strategy emphasised the importance of international industrial partnerships to build the strategic weight Australia needs to shape the future and recent international events have further highlighted the critical nature of sovereign supply chains and manufacturing capacity."
The potential supply of these rockets to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) would build upon current ADF 70mm rocket supply arrangements through Foreign Military Sales (FMS).
“Manufacturing warheads and key munitions for Apache would represent a key step in realising that objective," James stated.
The multiple natures of Hydra-70 rockets are key munitions for the ADF’s incoming AH-64E Apache helicopter fleet being delivered under Project Land 4503 and as a kinetic effector in Counter UAS systems.
Subject to appropriate US Government approvals, the companies intend to explore opportunities for Australian assembly of the rockets under a multi-year agreement, offering increased flexibility, shorter lead times, assured domestic supply, and overall lower lifecycle cost for these munitions.
In line with the Commonwealth’s Defence Industrial Development Strategy (DIDS) goals, Nioa and GDOTS will assess which components of the system might cost effectively be manufactured in Australia with a view to seeking transfer of production to the Australian defence industrial base.