The 2024 National Defence Strategy (NDS) details the Australian Government’s approach to address Australia’s most significant strategic risks based on the concept of National Defence.

The Defence Strategic Review released in 2023 observed that Australia faced its most challenging strategic environment since the Second World War.

It also reaffirmed the end of the ten-year warning time for major conflict amid the backdrop of entrenched and increasing global strategic competition.

A key feature of the Government’s response to the deteriorating strategic environment is to invest in capabilities that enhance Australia’s readiness and preparedness, and increase our resilience and self-reliance.

Requirements for increasing Australia’s strategic resilience include:

• enhanced military preparedness
• advanced munitions manufacturing, especially in long-range guided weapons
• robust national logistics
• a national industrial base with capacity to scale.

Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Group leads the acceleration of Australia’s GWEO Enterprise.

The 2024 Defence Industry Development Strategy sets out that the domestic manufacture of GWEO and munitions is a key Strategic Defence Industrial Priority. In April 2024, the Australian Government backed this priority with up to $21 billion of funding over the decade. This represents around 5% of the Integrated Investment Program.

In addition to increasing domestic manufacturing, Defence is expanding GWEO stockpiles and acquiring key guided weapons and explosive ordnance for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) through direct acquisitions.

A resilient and secure GWEO supply chain will enhance the ADF's ability to sustain its strike, missile defence and underwater weapons capabilities in conflict.

Industry partners

Defence industry plays a critical role in realising the GWEO’s ambitions. Defence industry partners support GWEO to:

• accelerate the delivery of weapons purchases and manufacture
• identify and expand manufacturing and maintenance pathways for GWEO, and their components in Australia
• establish supply chains that enable Australian industry to engage, including opportunities for small and medium enterprises.

There are opportunities for Defence industry to participate in the GWEO Enterprise across every level of the national and global supply chains.

Office of Defence Industry Support (ODIS) works with Defence Groups and Services, state and territory agencies, industry associations, small to medium enterprises and Defence Primes. Visit the ODIS site for more information and contact details.

Enterprise Partners

Enterprise Partners demonstrate expertise and provide specialist advice and services directly to Defence. They do this through collaboration with the GWEO Enterprise across the short, medium, and long-term planning horizons.

Aurecon

Appointed in 2022, Aurecon provides subject matter expertise in Defence estate and infrastructure investment planning and delivery.

Australian Missile Corporation

Also appointed in 2022, Australian Missile Corporation is supporting Australian GWEO supply chains and technology development.

Enterprise Strategic Partners

Enterprise Strategic Partners identify opportunities, lead engagement and establish domestic supply chains with other companies across the industrial base, including small and medium-sized Australian businesses.

Lockheed Martin

Appointed in April 2022, Lockheed Martin Australia is developing a domestic manufacturing capability for Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems missiles (GMLRS), which Australia will start assembling from 2025. The local manufacture of GMLRS and select components will improve supply resilience and build industrial capability, with a long-term plan to design and manufacture a wider range of future weapons.

Raytheon Australia

Appointed in April 2022, Raytheon Australia provides guided weapons and explosive ordnance capabilities for the ADF, including the AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9X Sidewinder, Standard Missile II, and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile.

Kongsberg Defence Australia

Appointed in August 2024, Kongsberg Defence Australia will deliver a domestic missile manufacturing and maintenance capability for the Naval Strike Missile and the Joint Strike Missile aiming for full rate production by 2028.

Thales Australia

Appointed as an Enterprise Strategic Partner in October 2024, Thales Australia is the current operator of the 2 Commonwealth owned munitions factories at Mulwala NSW and Benalla VIC, which provide much of the industrial foundations upon which Australia relies on for the domestic manufacture of munitions.

Storage and distributions

Defence is rapidly expanding and hardening its explosive ordnance storage and distribution network to accommodate a growing GWEO inventory. Current explosive ordnance storage is a mixture of earth covered buildings, light frangible buildings and containerised storage (modified shipping containers). 

Defence has been working with its Enterprise Partners to deliver accelerated storage and distribution capacity, and to develop options to enhance the explosive ordnance storage distribution network. Construction has commenced at some bases, with significant further construction continuing in 2026.

Research and development

For businesses interested in the research and development component of the GWEO Enterprise visit the Defence Science and Technology Group website.

Working with other countries

United States

Our Alliance with the United States (US) plays an important role in the development of a resilient and enduring munitions industrial base with the capability and capacity to meet Australian defence requirements.

As great friends and trusted partners, Australia and the US will collaborate on manufacturing, co-develop advanced missile technology, and build our collective GWEO supply chains. Our ongoing partnership will contribute to regional deterrence, promote allied interoperability and provide a second source of supply for critical munitions.

AUSMIN 2024 saw significant commitments to deepen cooperation on the GWEO Enterprise, particularly on Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, 155mm artillery munitions, Precision Strike Missile, and Rocket Motor Manufacturing.

Australia has established Cooperative Programs with the United States for several weapons, most notably Mk 48 Heavy Weight Torpedoes and the Precision Strike Missile. Work is underway to establish the Hypersonic Air Launched Cruise Missile and Mk54 Advanced Light Weight Torpedo Program as Cooperative Programs to progress co-development, co-production and co-sustainment opportunities.

The US reaffirmed its support for the GWEO Enterprise at AUSMIN 2025.

Norway

Australia and Norway share a close strategic relationship based on a shared vision of stronger and more assured global supply chain for guided weapons. This has led to unprecedented growth in the GWEO relationships.

Defence have strategically partnered with Norwegian missile manufacturer Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace, and its Australian subsidiary Kongsberg Defence Australia, to manufacture and maintain the Naval Strike Missile and Joint Strike Missile in Australia. This is being delivered using a new missile production facility in the Newcastle Airport Precinct in NSW, thereby uplifting local industry.