Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade fire M31 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems from their M270A1 MLRS during the Thunder Cloud live-fire exercise in Andoya, Norway on the night of Sept. 15, 2021. (Official U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Bush)
MELBOURNE — Northrop Grumman has been selected by Australia to establish a solid rocket motor manufacturing industrial base in the country.
The company said in an announcement on Thursday that it will commence engagement with local industry “to explore, discuss and clarify potential requirements and processes relating to solid rocket motor production in Australia.”
It added that a core element of the program will be to integrate Australian suppliers into the production line, which would ensure the country benefits from access to the company’s propulsion technology while establishing a sovereign manufacturing base onshore.
A news release by the Australian Department of Defence said that the program will see an initial investment of AU$126.9 million ($91.6m) to establish solid rocket motor production in-country, as part of efforts to strengthen its sovereign defence industrial base.
