Aurora Labs has moved to expand its role in Australia’s defence manufacturing sector, announcing a Memorandum of Understanding with Ares Armaments Australia to progress research, development and rapid production techniques for advanced small-arms components.
In a statement, the ASX-listed company said the non-binding agreement with Ares Armaments — described as a sovereign defence manufacturer specialising in precision small-arms and armaments — will focus on prototyping and testing lighter, stronger and more consistent components using exotic metals.
The company said the collaboration aims to support future high-volume manufacturing opportunities in defence applications.
According to Aurora Labs, the R&D program will assess how A3D’s additive manufacturing and advanced metal processing technologies could contribute to improving the performance and cost-effectiveness of small, high-performance parts, while meeting strict safety and regulatory standards required by defence and law enforcement customers.
Ares Armaments, which operates ISO 9001-accredited R&D and testing facilities in South Australia, supplies made-to-order, industrialised hand-loaded precision ammunition with a focus on ballistically matched natures for domestic defence and law enforcement agencies.
Aurora Labs said both companies see the potential for scalability, with small-arms programs typically requiring large production volumes that could lend themselves to high-throughput manufacturing environments.
Initial information sharing between the two organisations has begun, with prototyping, first production and testing expected to commence in the first quarter of 2026 at Ares’ facilities before broader engagement with its customer network.
Aurora Labs said the partnership also aims to engage with government and defence stakeholders to build industry awareness and support, highlighting what it describes as Australia’s growing capability in advanced manufacturing and defence technology.
“This collaboration represents an exciting expansion for the Company and will allow us to apply our extensive manufacturing expertise to a high-volume, strategically important sector to further demonstrate the versatility of our technology in real-world applications,” Aurora Labs Chief Executive Officer Rebeka Letheby said.
“Working alongside an established and respected counterparty such as Ares positions Aurora Labs to capitalise on a new commercial pathway that aligns with the national focus on onshore capability and advanced manufacturing. This partnership underscores the growing relevance of our technology across the defence industry and reinforces the Company’s role in delivering innovative, high-performance manufacturing solutions in Australia,” she explained.
Aurora Labs said the agreement builds on its previous work with the Department of Defence involving 3D-printed metal components using exotic materials.
The content of this article is based on information supplied by Aurora Labs Ltd. For more information, please refer to the official company announcement and communications from Aurora Labs. Please consult a licensed and/or registered professional in this area before making any decisions based on the content of this article.
