Federal Government to unveil 10-year missiles blueprint as it prepares for regional ‘missile age’

Building a sovereign missiles industry will be critical to protecting Australia in the regional “missile age”, the Albanese Government will say as it unveils its comprehensive plan to bolster stockpiles and domestic capabilities over the coming decade.

The 2024 “Australian Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Plan” will be published on Wednesday, set to be a ten-year blueprint to rapidly build up a sovereign munitions manufacturing industry, and ramp up the acquisition of long-range strike.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy will use a speech at the National Press Club to say that Australia cannot afford to fall behind the rapidly evolving missile technological advancement given what is happening in our backyard.

“Conflicts unfolding on the other side of the world are deeply affecting the lives of Australians, and have significant implications for Australia’s national interests,” he will say.

“Over the decades, missile technology has evolved, especially through precision guidance capabilities. More states now wield them – and they are no longer the sole preserve of states. Analysts believe we are now on the cusp of a new Indo-Pacific missile age.”

“So, as well as acquiring more missiles, more rapidly from our partners, we need to build a new Australian guided weapons manufacturing industry. The Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise — known as GWEO — is our answer to protecting Australia in the missile age.

“(Our) policies will provide the Australian Defence Force with the missile capabilities it needs to keep our country safe by deterring any conflict before it begins.”

Mr Conroy is expected to announce the construction of a new forging facility for manufacturing 155mm M795 artillery ammunition - used by Australia, the United States and other international partners in critical close-fire capabilities.

The construction is set to support 550 existing jobs, and forms part of a broader $74bn package for GWEO and related capabilities.

In releasing the GWEO plan, Defence Minister Richard Marles will say that investment in a sovereign industry that can produce and maintain priority weapons “will support the ADF’s transformation to an integrated, focused force”.

The release of the plan, and Mr Conroy’s speech, comes a week after the United States signed off on a $7bn sale to give Australia’s navy the ability to hit strike targets hundreds of kilometres away and intercept incoming attacks.