The Australian Missile Corporation has welcomed its appointment to the Enterprise Partner Panel for the nation’s new guided weapons enterprise. The AMC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Queensland-based NIOA – the largest Australian-owned supplier of weapons and munitions to the Australian Defence Force. As a Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) enterprise partner, the AMC will be engaged to assist the Department of Defence to mobilise Australia’s industrial base in support of the enterprise, which could include skilling, infrastructure development, research and development, and test and evaluation.
Robert Nioa, CEO of NIOA, said: “We are delighted that the Australian Missile Corporation has been chosen to partner with the Commonwealth Government for this important project for the nation. This is the beginning of an exciting opportunity to pioneer a high-tech defence manufacturing sector that will create jobs, drive innovation and build critical sovereign capability. The AMC is looking forward to working with our industry partners, combining our extensive capabilities and experience to deliver the best of breed technology to the ADF.’’
Nioa has announced Royal Australian Navy Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Lee Goddard as CEO of the AMC. Nioa said Goddard’s vast operational and leadership experience combined with his strategic insight would be an asset to the AMC. During a 34-year career, Goddard commanded the Anzac Class frigates, HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Perth, as well as serving at sea in Canadian, Malaysian and US Navy warships and on operations in the Middle East, South China Sea and Border Protection. His last role was Commander, Maritime Border Command, leading Operation Sovereign Borders.
Goddard said the AMC role was a once in a generation opportunity to be a part of a major defence project that will have far-reaching economic and strategic benefits for Australia. Independent analysis commissioned by the AMC has forecast that the economic benefit of the GWEO enterprise over a 20-year period includes more than 13,000 jobs, $178.91 billion in gross output, $73.43 billion in GDP and $25.03 billion in factor income. “Building an in-country smart munitions industry will be a huge and complex undertaking. The AMC is excited about the potential this has to stimulate the defence industry,” Goddard said. “Over the longer term this project will help create new manufacturing opportunities for Australians and pioneering technologies that can be developed and exploited in Australia.”
The AMC has linked with more than 320 partners from defence, aerospace, academia and government since Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced $1 billion to accelerate a domestic guided weapons industry a year ago. The AMC’s advisory board, chaired by former defence minister Christopher Pyne, comprises some of the sharpest minds in the industry including former US Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Hon. Ellen Lord, US Army Brigadier General (Ret’d) Alfred Abramson and Dr Ken Anderson, former Chief of the Aerospace Division in the Defence Science and Technology Group.
Sovereign Missile Alliance announced as enterprise partner
The Sovereign Missile Alliance (SMA), a joint venture between Nova Systems and Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has been down selected as an enterprise partner in the $1 billion Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise. The SMA will support the Department of Defence to mobilise Australia’s industrial base to enable the Sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise.
“The expertise the SMA brings to the GWEO Enterprise will lead to greater self-reliance for a range of hi-tech guided weapons,” said Jim McDowell, CEO, Nova Systems. “The enterprise will bring operational sovereignty to Australia, which in the case of guided weapons, is about removing the risks of losing access to, or control over these essential weapon systems.”
The SMA draws on the strengths of EOS and Nova Systems, two leading sovereign defence companies with an established local supply chain comprising more than 600 Australian businesses across the country.
“SMA expects to contribute its experience in optimising ordnance readiness to enhance available missile inventory, as well as contribute to the progressive alignment and evolution of GWEO technology with sovereign requirements going forward,” said Ben Greene, Group CEO, EOS.
SMA involves a collective workforce of 1,000 local employees, an annual revenue of more than $500 million, and $40 million in research and development to deliver world-leading innovation. GWEO is an important part of the Government’s $270 billion, 10-year investment in Defence and Australia’s defence industry.
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