Australia to boost missile production

Australia announced plans on Wednesday to manufacture guided, long-range missiles as part of a broader strategy to bolster its defence capabilities against potential threats.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy revealed that Australia will establish a local industry to produce these critical missiles and other much-needed ammunition, strengthening its national arsenal in the face of growing regional tensions.

In a recent address, Minister Conroy highlighted the need for expanded missile production, citing the escalating strategic rivalry between the United States and China as a defining aspect of Australia’s security landscape.

To accelerate this initiative, Australia will collaborate with the US defence giant Lockheed Martin to establish a facility that will produce advanced "guided multiple-launch rocket systems" — the first such facility for Lockheed Martin outside the US With an estimated budget of $200 million USD, the "Advanced Weapons Manufacturing Complex" is projected to produce up to 4,000 missiles annually, which equates to over a quarter of current global production levels and far exceeds current demand by the Australian Defence Force.

In addition to the missile project, Australia has contracted with French defence company Thales to manufacture artillery shells locally, which are commonly used in howitzer batteries.

This announcement follows China’s recent testing of an intercontinental ballistic missile in the Pacific, the first of its kind in four decades, raising regional alarm.

Concerns over China’s significant defence spending and the ongoing war in Ukraine have prompted Australia and other US allies to urgently address gaps in their munitions manufacturing capabilities.