Nioa and Diehl deepen their bond with naval munitions strategic partnership
Rendering of the future Hunter-class frigate for the Royal Australian Navy, which will be armed with a 5-inch gun. (Image: BAE Systems)
An agreement between Nioa and Diehl includes technology transfer for Australian sovereign manufacturing of naval munitions.
Nioa announced a new strategic partnership for naval ammunition during the Land Forces 2022 exhibition in Brisbane on 4-6 October.
The Australian company is teaming with Germany-based Diehl Defence to receive technology for the local production and supply of 5-inch [127mm] naval munitions, including ‘high explosives, practice projectiles, [and] propelling charges’.
Each Anzac-class frigates in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is already armed with a single 127mm (Mark 45 Mod 4) gun, and the same weapon will equip the future Hunter-class vessels.
Nioa and Diehl will also evaluate ‘possible cooperation in the areas of the guided long-range ammunition capabilities and products of Diehl Defence’, the Australian company noted in a statement.
Diehl previously supplied 76mm rounds to the Royal Australian Navy. In June 2021, the company signed an MoU with Nioa to support sovereign Australian munitions manufacturing capabilities.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Sea 5000 Future Frigate (Hunter Class) [Australia]
More from Defence Notes
-
![“Capital follows confidence” as defence courts private money]()
“Capital follows confidence” as defence courts private money
Outside investment and the direction in which venture money flows may reveal what defence will buy years before formal programmes begin.
-
![Canada’s new military drone marketplace targets rapid acquisition pipeline]()
Canada’s new military drone marketplace targets rapid acquisition pipeline
The Department of National Defence expects initial contracts to deliver thousands of uncrewed systems, but has yet to establish the quantities, capability mix or deadline behind Ottawa’s promised tenfold expansion.
-
![Ukraine turns legacy Kongsberg land turrets into semi-autonomous USV weapons]()
Ukraine turns legacy Kongsberg land turrets into semi-autonomous USV weapons
The company told Shephard that Ukraine is operating modified Protector weapon stations originally supplied for armoured vehicles, with human operators authorising engagements from hundreds of kilometres away.
-
![UK urged to prioritise sea, air and space over heavy armour]()
UK urged to prioritise sea, air and space over heavy armour
A report from the Council on Geostrategy argues the UK should move away from a traditional balanced force and shift investment to naval, air and space capabilities, backed by a larger fleet of attack submarines and deeper AUKUS integration.
-
![Thales: deployment speed to determine winners in ‘production versus production’ era]()
Thales: deployment speed to determine winners in ‘production versus production’ era
At its technology summit in London, attended by Shephard, Thales UK examined the importance of speed to delivery, the growing focus on cross-domain capabilities and how procurement reform could be crucial for future battlefield advantage.
-
![Orchestrating operational readiness across every defence domain]()
Orchestrating operational readiness across every defence domain
Are all systems ready for the next mission? Have upgrades been applied? Are all assets aligned to deploy together, on time and fully prepared? In modern defence operations, readiness is no longer measured platform by platform. It is measured by how well people, assets, data and decisions move together — across land, sea and air.
