Missile production being boosted across three continents
The test firing means full-rate production of Australian-made NSM launchers can begin. (Photo: Kongsberg)
The demand for missiles reflects current strategic interests, such as those in the Indo-Pacific region and conflict in Europe, along with an expectation of local involvement in manufacture which also supports a drive to build capacity.
The past three months has seen a surge in work to expand air defence and land attack missiles with soil turned on two sites, one in Australia and one in Europe, and plans announced for a facility in the US.
At the same time, Australia has this week conducted the first test-firing of a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) using a locally-made launcher and earlier in the month began the process to buy vehicle-mounted land-based, long-range fires.
The new Kongsberg facilities in Newcastle, Australia, where construction began on 6 December, and the planned factory James City County, Virginia in the US,
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