Weapons / Munitions

THE LEADER IN MUNITIONS

Victoria is the nation’s leader in the design and manufacture of munitions, bombs, military pyrotechnics and electronic warfare systems. Globally competitive capabilities, world-class research and a successful record of delivery to the Australian Defence Force makes Victoria the premier location for ordnance manufacture in Australia. Victoria’s extensive capabilities mean that it is well placed to supply advanced weapons systems to support major projects identified in the Federal Government’s 2016 Defence White Paper such as anti-ship missiles and new anti-ship weapons.

EXPERTISE

Victoria’s proven munitions and weapons capabilities include:

• Artillery, cannon and small arms ammunition
• Electronic warfare
• Improvised Electronic Device IED countermeasures
• Missiles and missile decoys
• Pyrotechnics

INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURERS

Victoria has a number of leading companies in the design and development of munitions and weapons:

Thales Australia is the largest supplier of explosive ordnance to the Australian Defence Force. The company’s Benalla facility in conjunction with Mulwala produces a wide range of ammunition, explosive ordnance and other munitions.

BAE Systems has a Melbourne-based aerospace facility which designs advanced naval air defence systems like the Nulka Active Missile Decoy and the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile System, both major export success stories. BAE manufactures elements of these weapon systems in Victoria. The Nulka Active Missile Decoy is the most sophisticated defence system against anti-ship missiles available for the protection of surface warships. It is currently deployed on over 150 Australian, US and Canadian warships.

Chemring Australia manufactures and supplies a range of air and sea launched countermeasures and is Australia’s leading designer and manufacturer of specialised military pyrotechnics, pyrotechnic countermeasures and special purpose devices. The company also develops systems in electronic warfare, Counter-Improvised Explosive devices and Explosive Ordnance Disposal and undertakes research and development tasks for the Defence Science and Technology Group.

Winchester Australia in Geelong is a supplier of ammunition to the Australian Defence Force as well as supporting and selling weapons, optics and less lethal ammunition.

For more information on the capabilities and credentials of the companies involved in Victoria’s munitions and weapons industry contact Victorian Defence Alliances.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Victoria is home to some of the nation’s leading research organisations including the Defence Science and Technology Groups and the Defence Materials Technology Centre. It also has numerous private sector companies undertaking research and development including Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Thales, Siemens and BMT Design and Technology.