NIOA, MBDA to explore domestic DELUGE manufacture

NIOA and MBDA have signed an agreement to explore Australian manufacture of MBDA’s DELUGE one-way effector. DELUGE is a cost-effective munition designed for saturation attacks through mass, applying sustained pressure on enemy air defences. It has a range of up to 500km, turbojet powered speed of Mach 0.4, robust navigation system, carrying a 50kg class payload. MBDA is renowned for its cutting-edge missile technology and will leverage battle-proven experience gained in recent high-intensity conflicts to provide allied forces with a next generation one-way attack munition capable of an overmatching affordable mass effect. This latest agreement deepens the collaboration between Australian-owned NIOA and MBDA, the world’s largest non-US missile manufacturer, after the two companies inked an agreement last November to explore options for the domestic warhead production of MBDA’s MISTRAL suite of missiles. Designed and developed by MBDA to be produced at high rates in partnership with civilian industries, the DELUGE utilises a readily available warhead including the M795 casings to be produced by NIOA’s joint venture Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions (RNM) in Maryborough, Queensland in a recently announced $72 million Australian Government contract. NIOA Group CEO Rob Nioa said: “NIOA is pleased to have signed this MOU with MBDA, further reinforcing the relationship between our companies that started with our cooperation on the MISTRAL VSHORAD system. The DELUGE One-Way Attack Munition is well adapted to the current and future low-cost mass effect requirements of the Australian Defence Force.” NIOA welcomes sovereign defence ambition NIOA Group Managing Director and CEO Rob Nioa has welcomed NIOA’s selection as a prospective anchor tenant for Western Australia’s proposed defence and advanced-manufacturing hub. Western Australia Premier and Defence Industries Minister Roger Cook and Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Industries Amber-Jade Sanderson today announced that five businesses are progressing Memorandums of Understanding with the WA State Government to become prospective anchor tenants of the Western Defence Forge (WDF). Nioa said NIOA was proud to support the WA Government in its ambition to strengthen sovereign capability. “Australia has the foundations, capability and expertise needed to support a world-class sovereign defence industry,” he said. “The opportunity now is to build on that strength through continued government investment and support, growing capacity, creating skilled jobs and securing critical defence capabilities for the future. As an Australian-owned company, NIOA has invested in sovereign munitions capability for decades and we see the WDF as an opportunity to build on that experience in partnership with the WA Government, Defence and industry. We look forward to working with government, industry and partners as we continue to develop important sovereign capability initiatives, supporting Australian industry and Australian jobs.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]