Australia has begun domestic production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System missiles, marking a step in the country’s broader effort to build a sovereign guided weapons manufacturing capability and reduce reliance on global supply chains.
Production operations recently started at a new facility in Port Wakefield, South Australia, with the first batch of missiles expected to be completed by mid-March. The site represents the first production facility outside the United States capable of manufacturing GMLRS, the primary munition used by the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.
The initiative forms part of Australia’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance enterprise, a national effort aimed at strengthening defense manufacturing and supply chain resilience while supporting the Australian Defence Force’s modernization strategy.
How Will Australia Expand Missile Production?
Work at the Port Wakefield site represents the initial phase of the GMLRS program and is designed primarily to establish production processes, workforce training, and certification of equipment and techniques.
The Australian government plans to scale manufacturing significantly over the coming years. It intends to build a separate high-rate production facility to manufacture up to 4,000 missiles annually by 2029, with plans to also produce long-range Precision Strike Missiles.
Brig. Jim Hunter, director general for guided weapons production capability, said the initiative represents a shift from Australia’s traditional procurement model.
“In the past, we’ve largely bought our weapons off the shelf, with orders taking years to arrive,” Hunter said. “Our intention is to ensure we are building guided weapons to the exact same standard as the weapons rolling off the production lines in the US.”
What Are GMLRS and PrSM?
GMLRS and PrSM are precision-guided munitions capable of striking targets at ranges of approximately 70 km and in excess of 1,000 km, respectively. Unlike conventional artillery rockets, these rockets incorporate navigation and control systems that enable course correction and highly accurate targeting.
Lockheed Martin is the manufacturer of GMLRS and PrSM. In 2024, the Australian Ministry of Defence partnered with the company to set up a GMLRS manufacturing facility.
“We have programs engaging with Australian industry to start building the parts, so that we get to a point where we could manufacture guided weapons from tip to tail,” Hunter said. “By having the capacity for the domestic manufacture of these weapons, Australia will have increased its resilience and ability to hold adversaries at risk, thus enabling the deterrence effects that underpin the National Defence Strategy.”