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Northrop Grumman has expanded its investment in Australian sovereign weapons manufacturing through the award of a non-recurring engineering contract to AW Bell.
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AW Bell’s participation in Northrop Grumman’s Global Supply Chain Program has demonstrated that company's titanium casting techniques with potential applications for programs like the Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range (AARGM-ER).
This latest contract will enable the ongoing development of AW Bell’s titanium casting capability and further develops Australia’s Sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) manufacturing capabilities.
Jake Campbell, interim country executive, Northrop Grumman Australia, welcomed this investment in Australia's sovereign defence manufacturing capability, saying, “This partnership strengthens our commitment to enhancing Australia’s defence industry capabilities and supply chain resilience, which is a core focus of our Australian industrial approach.”
The firm was recently honoured at the 2024 Northrop Grumman Supplier Excellence Awards with the Supplier Excellence award, recognising their contributions and deliveries to key programs such as AARGM-ER.
Sam Bell, CEO, AW Bell, echoed the sentiment of Campbell, saying, “Working with Northrop Grumman and their global supply chain team has been valuable in strengthening our manufacturing capabilities internationally. Being recognised with the 2024 Strategic Excellence Award was a highlight, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Northrop Grumman through our new titanium casting capability supporting GWEO and sovereign defence manufacturing in Australia.”
Through the Global Supply Chain Program, signed with the Australian Department of Defence in July, Northrop Grumman is identifying opportunities for Australian industry to compete within its global supply chain, with over $100 million of opportunities realised for small to medium enterprises.
Supporting supply chain resilience, building sovereign industrial capability and creating export opportunities is a fundamental tenet of Northrop Grumman Australia’s industrial approach.
AARGM provides the US Navy and Marine Corps, Italian Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force and the German Luftwaffe the latest and most advanced weapon system to engage and destroy enemy air defences and time-critical mobile targets.
AARGM is a supersonic, medium-range, air-launched tactical missile compatible with US and allied strike aircraft. The missile is designed to upgrade the High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) (AGM-88) system.
AARGM features an advanced digital anti-radiation homing sensor, millimeter wave radar terminal seeker, precise global positioning system/inertial navigation system (INS) guidance and net-centric connectivity.
AARGM-ER leverages existing AARGM components and adds a new high-performance air vehicle, propulsion system and advanced warhead to provide vital counter-air-defence capability.
