Australia to produce its own guided missiles as part of billion-dollar defence manufacturing plan
Australia will move to produce its own guided missiles under a $1 billion plan to establish a new weapons facility with a global arms manufacturer.

Missile | OEM | OEM in Australia Already? | Comments |
AIM-132 ASRAAM | MBDA | Yes - https://www.mbda-systems.com/australia/ | |
AIM-120 AMRAAM | Raytheon | Yes - https://www.raytheon.com/au | |
AIM-9X | Raytheon | Yes | |
AGM-88E HARM | Northrop Grumman | Yes - https://www.northropgrumman.com/who-we-are/global-presence/northrop-grumman-in-australia/ | |
AGM-154 | Raytheon | Yes | |
AGM-158 | Lockheed Martin | Yes - https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-au/index.html | |
AGM-84 Harpoon | Boeing | Yes - https://www.boeing.com.au/boeing-in-australia.page | Exit service in future so unlikely to be candidate under this activity |
RIM-66 Standard 2 | Raytheon | Yes | |
RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow | Raytheon | Yes | |
FGM-148 Javelin | Raytheon & Lockheed Martin | Yes | |
AGM-114 Hellfire | Lockheed Martin | Yes |
Missile | OEM | OEM in Australia Already? | Comments |
NASAMS | Raytheon & Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (though US Govt may own IP) | Yes for both but not currently producing missiles in country | Entering service with Land 19 Ph7 |
Spike LR2 | Rafael Advanced Defense Systems | Yes - via https://www.vrasystems.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=751373 | Entering service with Boxer CRV and Land 400Ph3 contenders in future |
Project Land 8113 | TBD though likely Lockheed Martin | Candidates likely to include M142 HIMARS and/or K239 Chunmoo | |
JSM/NSM | Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace | Yes - https://www.kongsberg.com/kda/contact-us/our-offices/kongsberg-defence-australia-pty-ltd---canberra/ | Office only - no manufacturing or other activities really occurring |
AARGM-ER | Northrop Grumman | Yes | Highly likely in future |
LM are being courageous teaming with Thales, they aren't really a partner I would trust.![]()
Lockheed Martin and Thales Australia team up for guided weapons manufacturing - Australian Defence Magazine
Lockheed Martin and Thales Australia have finalised a teaming agreement that will advance the delivery of an Australian guided weapons manufacturing capability in support of a sovereign national guide...www.australiandefence.com.au
I've worked with and been burnt by both over the years but from a business perspective it makes sense in this case.LM are being courageous teaming with Thales, they aren't really a partner I would trust.![]()
Lockheed Martin and Thales Australia team up for guided weapons manufacturing - Australian Defence Magazine
Lockheed Martin and Thales Australia have finalised a teaming agreement that will advance the delivery of an Australian guided weapons manufacturing capability in support of a sovereign national guide...www.australiandefence.com.au
More to the mix here:
- Under the recent AUKUS treaty it was announced that Australia will be getting Tomahawk cruise missiles. I believe these might fall into the bucket of missile options being locally supported here;
- Australia just released a RFP for AIR 6502 to provide a deployable, Ground-Based Medium Range Air Defence capability. Leading candidate has to be Patriot, perhaps in PAC2 & 3 variants. Another candidate therefore.
Further to last, adding in some more missiles plus other info & commentary related to.
[TD]JSM/NSM[/TD]
[TD]Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace[/TD]
[TD]Yes - https://www.kongsberg.com/kda/contact-us/our-offices/kongsberg-defence-australia-pty-ltd---canberra/[/TD]
[TD]Office only - no manufacturing or other activities really occurring[/TD]
Correctly predicted: https://adbr.com.au/australia-approved-to-buy-himars-long-range-fires/Future possible:
Missile OEM OEM in Australia Already? Comments NASAMS Raytheon & Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (though US Govt may own IP) Yes for both but not currently producing missiles in country Entering service with Land 19 Ph7 Spike LR2 Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Yes - via https://www.vrasystems.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=751373 Entering service with Boxer CRV and Land 400Ph3 contenders in future Project Land 8113 TBD though likely Lockheed Martin Candidates likely to include M142 HIMARS and/or K239 Chunmoo JSM/NSM Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Yes - https://www.kongsberg.com/kda/contact-us/our-offices/kongsberg-defence-australia-pty-ltd---canberra/ Office only - no manufacturing or other activities really occurring AARGM-ER Northrop Grumman Yes Highly likely in future
He confirmed there would be an emphasis on long-range strike weapons to give the Defence Force “greater teeth”, declaring he was “evangelical” about developing a local missile industry capable of maintaining existing warheads, growing the inventory, and eventually manufacturing them locally.
Design is a way off. This will be more about local production/support of off the shelf designs. It is not about going totally alone. It was triggered by the needs rot ensure supply of munitions in the future especially with things happening further north...Good luck to Australia. I wonder what type of missile they will design first? It does make you think about what made Australia go it alone in the first place.
[the] in-country factory will be one of only two facilities in the world capable of producing Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) and Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) with the other site in Kongsberg, Norway