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Thales Australia strongly welcomes the Albanese Government’s announcement of a $37.4 million contract with Lockheed Martin Australia to see manufacturing of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) from 2025 in Australia, said CEO Thales Australia Jeff Connolly.
“This is big news for a sovereign guided weapons manufacturing capability – it’s great to see Government commitment and congratulations to Lockheed Martin” said Mr Connolly.
“We at Thales stand ready to support this important national defence capability – we are deeply invested in domestic guided weapons capability.
“From rocket motor development, propulsion and payload, we want to do our part to help Government and our industry partners realise the vision by 2025.
“Yesterday’s announcement is a crucial step forward,” Mr Connolly said.
In 2021 Thales Australia invested $6 million in new state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing equipment at the Commonwealth owned Mulwala facility in regional New South Wales, to rapidly accelerate sovereign guided weapons manufacturing capability.
The company’s investment in new large-scale preparation and mixing equipment will enable a 500% increase in the size of rocket motors able to be manufactured at Mulwala, supporting production of advanced guided weapons and hypersonic weapons.
Thales Australia is the nation’s largest manufacturer of munitions, propellant and military explosives and manages the government owned contractor operated (GOCO) sites in Benalla, Victoria and Mulwala, New South Wales employing over 650 skilled staff to manufacture munitions systems for the ADF and allied forces.
