Thales Australia and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems delivering for the ADF

 General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) has been awarded a US$15 million contract for the prototype and process development of a 155mm XM1113 Rocket-Assisted Projectile Round.

 This new round can enable U.S. Field Artillery to fire to a range of 40 kilometres, providing unrivalled range and a 30% increase from the current US M549A1 round.
 Thales Australia and GD-OTS signed a partnering agreement at Land Forces 2018 which can offer the latest munitions solutions to the Australian Defence Force.

 GD-OTS is working with Thales Australia to expand the international Supply Chain enabling the U.S. Government to make the system available to additional customers.
Thales Australia welcomes the announcement that GD-OTS was awarded a US$15 million contract for the prototype and process development of a 155mm XM1113 Rocket-Assisted Projectile Round.

In 2018 Thales Australia became a part of the GD-OTS international supply chain enabling co-production and technology transfer for a variety of critical munitions products.
Thales is Australia’s leading defence exporter and a key part of the GD-OTS supply chain. This contract could lead to additional exports from Thales’s operations at the Benalla and Mulwala sites, potentially securing and increasing jobs and investment for Thales and its local supply chain.

This announcement builds on the partnership between Thales Australia and GD-OTS, strengthening Australia’s identified Sovereign Industrial Capability in munitions and small arms research, design, development and manufacture.

This agreement was enabled by the United States Government’s expanded definition of their National Technology and Industrial Base to include Australia.

The XM1113 RAP uses rocket technology to deliver greater thrust to the round, when compared to its predecessor, the legacy M549A1. This new round will enable current U.S. Field Artillery 155mm Systems to fire the XM1113 RAP to a range of 40 kilometres, a 30% increase from the M549A1. When fired from the US’s planned future Extended Range Artillery Cannon, the XM1113 will achieve ranges out to 70 kilometres.

“Thales is delighted to be associated with GD-OTS, and through our partnership to potentially offer and deliver a world-class capability to the Australian Defence Force. This announcement could lead to additional export opportunities, securing and increasing jobs and investment for Thales and our local supply chain.” Corry Roberts, Vice President Land, Thales Australia “The XM1113 RAP brings enhanced performance to the battlefield, increasing lethality and extending range for the cannon artillery warfighter.

We are proud to support the Army’s modernisation initiatives to provide overmatch capability to the warfighter; and look forward to meeting the operational needs of our international allies”. Jason Gaines, Vice President and General Manager of Munition Systems at General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems.

About Thales The people who make the world go round – they rely on Thales. Our customers come to us with big ambitions: to make life better, to keep us safer. Combining a unique diversity of expertise, talents and cultures, our architects design and deliver extraordinary high technology solutions. Solutions that make tomorrow possible, today.

From the bottom of the oceans to the depths of space and cyberspace, we help our customers think smarter and act faster – mastering ever greater complexity at every decisive moment along the way. Thales generated revenues of €19 billion in 2018 with 80,000 employees in 68 countries.

SOURCEThales Australia
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