Lockheed Martin Australia says it has completed a successful warhead detonation test in regional New South Wales alongside Northrop Grumman Australia and Thales Australia, marking a further step toward establishing sovereign guided weapons manufacturing capability in Australia.
In a news release, the companies said the co-produced warhead was manufactured and demonstrated within 11 weeks at a test range near Bourke, NSW, with the effort intended to showcase the speed and coordination of Australia’s defence industry.
According to the companies, the warhead was manufactured by Northrop Grumman with support from Thales Australia and is designed for use in Lockheed Martin’s Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), which is employed by the Australian Army’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher.
Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand chief executive Jeremy King said the demonstration highlighted local industry capability in defence manufacturing.
“This demonstration showcases the strength of Australian industry working together to design, manufacture and test production-quality warhead technologies in-country,” King said.
“It marks an important step forward toward achieving the Commonwealth’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance objectives.”
King said the company remained committed to its partnership with Thales Australia and Northrop Grumman Australia in developing GMLRS-related warheads to support a sovereign guided weapons capability for Defence.
Jeff Connolly, chief executive of Thales Australia and New Zealand, said the project demonstrated the potential for domestic manufacturing capability and supply chain resilience.
“Thales Australia is committed to leveraging our enduring and sovereign defence capabilities and to work with both parties and establish in-country manufacturing to increase supply certainty and deliver the Australian Defence Force capability,” Connolly said.
“This demonstration highlights the success of the approach and proves the partners can deliver this system and are on the path to more complex system production.”
The companies said the project forms part of broader efforts under the Commonwealth’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) program to accelerate the development and production of guided weapons in Australia.
Rob Denney said Northrop Grumman’s manufacturing experience and production planning capabilities could help accelerate sovereign warhead production in Australia.
“In collaboration with Lockheed Martin, Thales Australia, the Commonwealth and local suppliers, we’re committed to accelerating manufacturing of long-range guided weapons and enhancing a sovereign Australian capability that is scalable, affordable and effective,” Denney said.
The companies said the overall test results exceeded expectations and demonstrated the benefits of collaboration between defence industry partners, while also supporting local employment and industry capability development.
