Australian will manufacture its own missiles with $850m committed to building a new facility in northern New South Wales.
The Federal Government will partner with Kongsberg Defence Australia to manufacture and service missiles at Williamtown, near Newcastle.
Federal Defence Minister Pat Conroy said the project, which involved constructing a factory in the Newcastle Airport precinct, was expected to generate more than 500 jobs in the construction phase and almost $100 million in economic benefits to the local area.
Minister Conroy said the facility would manufacture and service Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) and Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) to be used by the Australian Defence Force.
“It will be one of only two facilities in the world capable of producing NSM and JSM, with the other site in Kongsberg, Norway.”
He said construction was expected to start later this year.
Minister Conroy said Kongsberg Defence Australia would become a strategic partner in the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise, which was backed by a commitment of up to $21 billion over the coming decade.
He said the JSM, which could be fitted to the F-35A aircraft, and NSM were modern anti-ship cruise missiles designed to defeat highly capable enemy warships, with both also able to be deployed against land-based targets.
“The NSM will enhance the maritime and land strike capabilities of Hobart class destroyers and Anzac class frigates, and will replace the Harpoon anti-ship missile, supporting the increased lethality of the enhanced surface combatant fleet.
“The establishment of the manufacturing facility at the Newcastle Airport precinct will help make Australia more self-reliant and boost war stocks, while supporting the local economy and Australia’s defence industry.”
