Rheinmetall, Nioa to open artillery manufacturing facility
Rheinmetall Defence Australia will establish a new artillery manufacturing facility in Australia under an agreement with munitions partner Nioa, the company announced on 19 October.
The companies will form a joint venture to fund and manage the facility, which will be based in Maryborough, Queensland. It will be also part funded by an Australian government grant.
Rheinmetall and Nioa have a significant partnership across a range of munitions products and services in Australia including delivery of Rheinmetall’s future family of artillery ammunition to the Australian Army under the Land 17 1.C2 programme.
Under the agreement, Rheinmetall will transfer intellectual property for its artillery manufacturing to Australia to underpin future production from the new Maryborough facility.
Gary Stewart, managing director, Rheinmetall Defence Australia, said the new facility would replace munitions imported into Australia and ensure the nation has a long term sovereign capability to supply the Australian Defence Force.
He said: ‘The artillery manufactured at the new facility will be delivered to the Australian Army and for export to selected defence forces globally through Rheinmetall’s global supply chain programme. This will not only ensure supply to Australian soldiers but also elevate Australia’s profile globally as an exporter of high quality munitions.’
More from Land Warfare
-
FNSS advances Indonesian Kaplan APC programme as local production expands
FNSS and PT Pindad are progressing the Indonesian tracked armoured personnel carrier programme as local production gets under way.
-
British Army's open plan draws diverse offerings for Land Rover replacement
The UK Ministry of Defence has avoided being prescriptive in its search to replace the British Army’s Land Rover, meaning vehicle types being offered range from Land Rover Defender Wolf II and Humvee to the hybrid series Fering Pioneer. What does this mean for the procurement process?
-
DVD 2026: British Army’s Ajax back in the hands of users as part of a gradual return
The introduction of Ajax vehicles into British Army service was stopped after operator health issues were reported during an exercise, but manufacturer General Dynamics Land Systems UK believes work over the past 10 months has dealt with the problems.
-
Europe commits to long-range fires but countries move in different directions
Sweden, Croatia and France are pursuing different rocket artillery solutions as European armies seek greater reach, survivability and industrial resilience.