Thales Australia and New Zealand CEO Jeff Connolly said the investment is a vote of confidence in the capability of Australian industry to support the Government’s objectives to build this important sovereign capability right here in Australia.
“I welcome the Government and Minister Conroy’s announcement to invest in this critical capability which will support the significant step-change in technology development and innovation necessary to continue to grow a highly skilled workforce and create the advanced manufacturing jobs of the future,” Mr Connolly said.
In announcing the massive investment in Mulwala on Friday, October 6, Federal Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said it would create a first up 45 jobs, with the potential for up to 150 jobs as the facilities expand.
Production will significantly boost industrial capacity through infrastructure redevelopment at both sites – ensuring each site is equipped to support future productions demands such as 155mm artillery ammunition - new explosives at Mulwala and enhanced munition manufacturing procedures, including non-destructive testing.
What was originally thought to be up to five years away the Federal Government is keen to begin manufacturing all its own missiles within two years under an ambitious plan that will also allow the country to supply guided weapons to the United States and possibly export them to other nations.
Mulwala and Benalla ammunitions facilities are seen to be the perfect fit for Australia’s efforts to advance production of its own military propellants and high-grade explosives as part of federal government’s $19 billion defence review.
The Albanese government plans to more than double the funding for domestic munitions production of guided weapons and fast-track the purchase of long-range Precision Strike Missiles to deliver the newly released Australian Defence Review report immediate recommendations.
Mulwala’s munitions facility, which was built back in World War II, continues to be a strategic focus for shoring up the Australian Defence Force (ADF) weaponry capability while delivering more jobs for the local community.
The Mulwala site is included in an Australian Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO). The GWEO is the Federal Government’s commitment to making more of its parts and weapons on Australian soil due to supply chain vulnerabilities posed by both adversaries and pandemics.
In 2021 Thales Australia invested $6 million in new state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing equipment at the Commonwealth-owned Mulwala facility to rapidly accelerate sovereign guided weapons manufacturing capability.
The company’s investment in new large-scale preparation and mixing equipment will enable a 500% increase in the size of rocket motors able to be manufactured at Mulwala, supporting production of advanced guided weapons and hypersonic weapons.
“Thales’s investment in increasing Australia’s industrial capability is a clear demonstration of the company’s long-term commitment to growing and maintaining an enduring, sustainable and resilient sovereign industrial munitions capability, and be an indispensable partner to the Australian Defence Force in delivering them a strategic sovereign capability advantage,” Mr Connolly said.
“Thales Australia is the nation’s largest manufacturer of munitions, propellant and military explosives and manages the government owned contractor operated (GOCO) sites in Benalla, Victoria and Mulwala, New South Wales employing over 650 skilled staff to manufacture munitions systems for the ADF and allied forces.”
8°C