BAE Systems Australia and MBDA have announced a collaboration to help Australia increase its guided weapons and explosive ordnance (GWEO) capabilities.
The partnership will leverage MBDA’s missile production and BAE’s local experience and expertise.
The companies have delivered a range of GWEO capabilities to Australia, including BAE’s Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile and Nulka subsystems and MBDA’s ASRAAM air-to-air missile program.
The alliance’s initial focus will be on the “weaponization of BAE Systems’ STRIX Uncrewed Aerial System,” while building capacity within the Australian GWEO ecosystem.
Guided Weapon Ecosystem
Canberra launched the GWEO enterprise in 2021 to build a local guided weapon and explosive ordnance ecosystem, ensuring supply chain sustainability and inventory expansion.
In April 2022, the government announced Lockheed Martin and Raytheon would be strategic partners in the initiative.
The GWEO will increase support systems for seven key enterprise enablers: manufacturing, research and development, education and training, test and evaluation, maintenance and repair, storage and distribution, and disposal.
Australian Guided Weapons Manufacturing
“This collaboration will enable access to the Australian innovation ecosystem that will deliver the next generation of missile capability to the [Australian Defence Force] and allied armed forces globally,” BAE Systems Australia chief executive officer Ben Hudson said.
“Indeed, this collaboration opens the door to future guided weapons being manufactured in part, or in whole, by Australian industry.”
