Lockheed Martin announced that it has been selected as a Strategic Industry Partner in the development of the Australian Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise alongside Raytheon Australia.
Lockheed Martin Australia CEO Warren McDonald said the announcement will see the company’s Missiles and Fire Control division – based in Grand Prairie, Texas – work together with Lockheed Martin Australia to deliver the project.
“This is a strategically important and vital national undertaking, and we will respond to the Australian Government’s expectations by growing a skilled local workforce and working with Australian small and medium enterprises to build resiliency in supply chains,” Mr McDonald said.
“This decision will support advanced manufacturing, engineering and technology jobs, accelerating the establishment of a highly skilled workforce and providing opportunities for future upgrades in areas such as sensors, warheads and extended missile ranges.”
Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton said three Australian-based companies – The Australian Missile Corporation, The Sovereign Missile Alliance and Aurecon Advisory – will support prime contractors as sovereign industry partners of the $1 billion Program.
“I am pleased to announce Raytheon Australia and Lockheed Martin Australia have been selected as initial industry partners of the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise,” the Minister said.
“These two companies, along with their US-based parent companies, are the largest suppliers of guided weapons to Defence.
“We will be working with them to rapidly increase our ability to maintain and manufacture guided weapons and their components in Australia.
“We know we need to work closely with our partners to bolster our self-reliance and this is another major step in delivering that sovereign capability here in Australia.”
The announcement follows the opening of a new $96 million state-of-the-art maintenance facility for Navy guided missiles in Orchard Hills, Western Sydney.
“The facility is a world first for its inherent safety and functionality, and will include advanced software to optimise weapons maintenance,” Minister Dutton said.
“It is also just one example of the infrastructure that will need to be delivered in coming years to support our Sovereign Guided Weapons eco-system in Australia.
“We are building new facilities and infrastructure to ensure we get the maximum lethal capability from our current missile stocks today and we are partnering with two of the world’s foremost missile makers to build our own manufacturing base in Australia in the future.”
