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South Australian-based Aerobond has signed a new contract to support the production and provision of launcher canisters for the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile system, to be acquired by the Royal Australian Navy as part of the SEA 1300 project.
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Aerobond is a specialist in advanced composite and sheet metal manufacturing company, drawing on extensive experience in the commercial aviation industry to provide domestically produced launcher canisters to Kongsberg as part of work on the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) capability which will be fitted to the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac Class frigates and Hobart Class destroyers.
Through this collaboration, Aerobond and Kongsberg are increasing Australian manufacturing capacity and Australian industrial content within the SEA 1300 project, providing flow on value for the Commonwealth’s multibillion dollar Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) enterprise and will create an additional 35 roles in South Australia.
John Fry, Kongsberg Defence Australia’s general manager said, “We are very pleased to have awarded this important contract to Aerobond. Australia is home to a very talented and innovative defence industry, and Kongsberg is committed to growing our network of local suppliers and providing manufacturing opportunities as part of our work program with the Australian Defence Force.”
Justin Struik, Aerobond’s founder and managing director added, “The contract with Kongsberg is a recognition of the deep skills, experience, and expertise that we have cultivated within Aerobond and across our workforce. It is an important milestone in our pathway to becoming a leading supplier in the defence industry supply chain. We look forward to working with the team at Kongsberg and delivering exceptional quality to support the Royal Australian Navy and its protection of Australia.”
Aerobond will manufacture the NSM launcher canisters in a new purpose-built 3,500-square metre facility in Adelaide, with production expected to commence in January 2024.
The NSM contains leading-edge technology that will provide Royal Australian Navy ships with a powerful maritime strike capability. This contract announcement comes following the formal signature and order by the Commonwealth for Kongsberg to deliver the NSM in January 2023.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said in January, “The Naval Strike Missile is a major step up in capability for our Navy’s warships, while HIMARS launchers have been successfully deployed by the Ukrainian military over recent months and are a substantial new capability for the Army.”
The Naval Strike Missile is a long-range, precision strike weapon that seeks and destroys enemy ships at distances greater than 100 nautical miles. The Naval Strike Missile is designed to elude enemy radar and defence systems by performing evasive manoeuvres and flying at sea-skimming altitude. NSM uses an advanced seeker for precise targeting and carries a 500-pound class warhead with a programmable fuse.
