BOURKE, NEW SOUTH WALES — May 26, 2026 : A consortium of defense companies has successfully completed the test detonation of a locally co-produced warhead near Bourke, New South Wales, marking a further step in Australia’s effort to establish sovereign guided weapons manufacturing capability under the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) enterprise.
The project, completed in just 11 weeks, brought together Lockheed Martin Australia, Northrop Grumman Australia and Thales Australia to demonstrate Australia’s ability to rapidly design, manufacture and test production-quality warhead technologies domestically using existing industrial resources and facilities.
Accelerating Australia’s Sovereign Guided Weapons Capability
The tested warhead, manufactured by Northrop Grumman with industrial support from Thales Australia, is designed for integration into Lockheed Martin’s Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), a precision-guided munition used by the Australian Army’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). GMLRS is capable of striking targets at ranges exceeding 70 kilometers and forms a key component of Australia’s emerging long-range precision strike capability.
According to the companies, the demonstration was intended to establish a rapid and low-risk pathway toward domestic warhead production while supporting the Australian Government’s broader GWEO strategy, which seeks to expand sovereign guided weapons and explosive ordnance manufacturing capacity.
The 11-week timeline highlighted an accelerated approach to engineering, manufacturing and testing, reflecting efforts among allied defense industries to improve production responsiveness and strengthen supply chain resilience for precision-guided munitions.
Jeremy King, Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, said the demonstration showed the strength of cooperation across Australia’s defense industry and represented progress toward meeting the Commonwealth’s GWEO objectives. He stated that the partnership supports the development of GMLRS-related warheads required to establish a sovereign guided weapons capability for the Australian Defence Force.
Building on Earlier GMLRS Production Milestones
The Bourke detonation test follows another recent milestone in Australia’s guided weapons program. In April 2026, the Australian Army conducted the first live-fire test of an Australian-assembled GMLRS missile at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia. Those missiles were assembled at Lockheed Martin Australia’s facility in Port Wakefield, demonstrating an early stage of domestic GMLRS assembly capability and supporting the next phase of local production.
Lockheed Martin Australia has also established a dedicated GMLRS production facility in Australia as part of its role in the GWEO enterprise, aimed at strengthening sovereign missile manufacturing and reducing reliance on overseas supply chains.
Strategic Industrial Collaboration and Supply Chain Development
Executives from the partner companies emphasized that the program relies on existing domestic industrial infrastructure and collaboration between industry, government and local suppliers to improve long-term supply certainty.
Jeff Connolly, Chief Executive of Thales Australia and New Zealand, said the effort demonstrates the ability of industry partners to establish in-country manufacturing and support the Australian Defence Force with sovereign capabilities. He noted that Lockheed Martin has established a GMLRS factory in Australia, while Northrop Grumman serves as the original equipment manufacturer of the selected warhead system, with Thales contributing industrial support to expand domestic production.
Rob Denney, Country Executive for Northrop Grumman Australia, said the company’s manufacturing expertise, program planning and production experience are intended to help accelerate sovereign warhead manufacturing in Australia. He added that cooperation between Lockheed Martin, Thales Australia, the Commonwealth and local suppliers is focused on creating a scalable, affordable and effective long-range guided weapons capability.
Supporting Future Domestic Defense Manufacturing
The companies stated that results from the Bourke warhead detonation exceeded expectations and positioned the partnership for future production of more complex systems. Beyond defense capability, the program is expected to support local employment, industrial development and economic activity as Australia expands domestic guided weapons manufacturing under the GWEO framework.
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