Lockheed Martin plans to expand the manufacturing of solid rocket motors and other missile energetics in Europe and the Middle East, a venture that the company is currently pursuing in Australia, Breaking Defense reported. Tim Cahill, executive vice president for missiles and fire control, disclosed the plan in a media briefing at the Avalon Air Show in Victoria last week.
Lockheed Martin and Thales’ Australian units are partners in Canberra’s program called Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance. One of its focus areas is developing solid rocket motors for various munitions, including Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems and SM-6 missiles. Canberra is also collaborating with Thales and Lockheed to establish and commission a 155 mm M795 artillery ammunition facility in Australia.
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In a separate report, Reuters said Lockheed expects its partnership with Thales to start producing GMLRS rocket motors this year. Defense executives noted that current energetics production is insufficient.
The Lockheed-Thales partnership, announced in September, plans to tap existing propellants and munitions production facilities that Thales manages in Mulwala, New South Wales, and Benalla, Victoria.
According to the Breaking Defense report, the Australian government has allocated up to $13.1 billion for the entire GWEO program. A request for information on other participants in the solid rocket motors project has been issued.