Wed Sep 18 02:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Australia Invests $22 Million in Sovereign Rocket Motor Program
**CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA -** The Albanese Government has announced a $22 million investment over the next three years to establish a sovereign rocket motor manufacturing complex in Australia. The program aims to boost the nation’s defence capabilities, create high-skilled jobs, and enhance strategic independence.
The initiative is part of the government’s “Future Made in Australia” agenda, focusing on developing a resilient domestic defence industry. The new complex will produce rocket motors for advanced missiles, including Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS), which will be manufactured in Australia from next year. Production is expected to begin by the end of the decade.
“This is another investment in a future made in Australia,” stated Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy. “This program is an endorsement of Australian ingenuity. Making solid rocket motors in Australia will build on Australia’s proud history as a manufacturing nation and contribute to a future made in Australia.”
The rocket motor program is part of the broader Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise, which is backed by up to $21 billion over the decade. In addition to the rocket motor program, the government announced a separate $60 million investment over five years to develop advanced guided weapon sub-systems, including hypersonic and long-range strike technologies.
The investment aligns with the 2024 National Defence Strategy’s recommendation to strengthen Australia’s domestic manufacturing capabilities, enhancing national security and resilience. The government believes the program will not only bolster Australia’s defence capabilities but also create high-paying jobs in regional Australia, contributing to a thriving domestic economy.
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