South Australia is playing a critical role in advancing Australia’s sovereign capability in guided weapons and explosive ordnance (GWEO). From enabling the Department of Defence’s efforts to develop long-range strike capability to protect Australia’s northern approaches, to supporting the deployment of advanced weapons that allow Australia to project power and safeguard maritime trade routes.
The national GWEO Enterprise is focused on building sovereign capability through domestic manufacturing of guided weapons, advanced munitions and long-range strike systems. South Australia’s is contributing through its specialised infrastructure and capability expansion across its mature defence manufacturing sector.
The Port Wakefield Proof and Experimental Establishment and Woomera Test Range, together with the Defence, Science, and Technology Group’s (DSTG) Explosive Ordnance Precinct at Edinburgh, are key enablers to support test and evaluation activities, helping to accelerate and ensure operational readiness.
Further investment in the DSTG precinct is providing access to specialised test equipment for industry partners, enabling the development of warheads, rocket motors, and GWEO sub-systems.
With the protection of maritime trade a key strategic priority, South Australia is also leading efforts to support the domestic manufacture of Naval Strike Missiles and Joint Strike Missiles. At Technology Park Adelaide, multi-million-dollar industry investments have established state-of-the-art facilities to support this capability.
RAAF Base Edinburgh is also home to the Australian Army’s 10th Brigade, equipped with long-range strike and air missile defence capability. This includes the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
South Australia is well positioned to support a transformative uplift in Australia’s defence industrial capabilities, contributing to national GWEO stocks, strengthening supply chains and supporting the ADF’s ability to generate short-range, ground-based air defence, long-range multi-domain strike and specialist targeting effects.
