The Australian Defence Department has announced that manufacturing of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) has commenced in Australia, marking the start of domestic production of the missiles.
In a news release, Defence said the move is intended to strengthen sovereign manufacturing capability and reduce reliance on international supply chains.
Production operations have begun at a new facility in Port Wakefield, South Australia, with the first batch of missiles expected to be completed by mid-March this year. According to Defence, this is the first facility outside the United States to manufacture GMLRS.
The government has also outlined plans to establish a separate high-rate manufacturing facility as part of a long-term objective to produce up to 4,000 missiles annually by 2029.
Director General Guided Weapons Production Capability Brigadier Jim Hunter said the development marked a shift towards greater sovereign manufacturing capacity.
“In the past, we’ve largely bought our weapons off the shelf, with orders taking years to arrive,” Brigadier Hunter said.
“Our intention is to ensure we are building guided weapons to the exact same standard as the weapons rolling off the production lines in the US.”
He said domestic production would strengthen Australia’s resilience in the event of global supply chain disruptions.
“By having the capacity for the domestic manufacture of these weapons, Australia will have increased its resilience and ability to hold adversaries at risk,” Brigadier Hunter said.
GMLRS are the primary munition used by the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and have a range of approximately 70 kilometres. Unlike standard rockets, they incorporate guidance kits and control systems that enable course correction and precision targeting over distance.
Defence said the initial phase of manufacturing is focused on risk reduction, including certifying processes, training personnel, and validating equipment and production techniques. Components are initially being sourced from the United States, with plans to progressively manufacture parts in Australia.
“We have programs engaging with Australian industry to start building the parts, so that we get to a point where we could manufacture guided weapons from tip to tail,” Brigadier Hunter said.
The department also outlined plans to eventually produce the Precision Strike Missile, a more advanced system with future increments expected to be capable of striking targets at ranges exceeding 1,000 kilometres.
The guided weapons production capability is one of five major manufacturing initiatives under Defence’s broader Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance enterprise, which is backed by an investment of up to $21 billion over the next decade.
Brigadier Hunter said the Defence Strategic Review had recommended increased investment in long-range strike capabilities as part of Australia’s deterrence posture.
“By having the capacity for the domestic manufacture of these weapons, Australia will have increased its resilience and ability to hold adversaries at risk, thus enabling the deterrence effects that underpin the National Defence Strategy,” he said.
