SPOTLIGHT: Building Australia’s guided weapons and explosive ordnance enterprise, with Ken Kota and James Heading

• The trio begin the podcast discussing why it is fundamental for Australia to develop a sovereign missile capability, and the company’s role in building Australian expertise in this field through the Australian Defence Strategic Capabilities Office.
• Kota and Heading then explain how the company’s guided weapons solutions, including the HIMARS, have been so successful on the modern battlefield.
• The podcast wraps up unpacking how a sovereign missile capability fits into the company’s broader joint all domain operations offering, and how Australian SMEs can play a part in this supply chain.

Editor’s note: This podcast was recorded prior to the Commonwealth confirming the acquisition of HIMARS in January.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 522: PODCAST: Threats, theatre and tariffs in Trump’s world, with the Defence Connect team
Episode 521: CONTESTED GROUND: Regaining the qualitative advantage
Episode 520: CONTESTED GROUND: What’s in store for 2025? Part 2
Episode 519: PODCAST: Boosting women’s involvement in defence industry, with Rachel Falzon, Women in Defence Association
Episode 518: SPOTLIGHT: Delivering a sovereign small arms and load carriage capability, with Aquaterro’s Graeme Bulte
Episode 517: PODCAST: Royal Australian Navy minehunters’ new purpose after service, with Frank van der Linde
Episode 516: CONTESTED GROUND: What’s in store for 2025?
Episode 515: PODCAST: Building a robust, fit for purpose ADF, with Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh MP
Episode 514: CONTESTED GROUND: What Trump’s Panama Canal comments mean for maritime law
Episode 513: SPOTLIGHT: How AIR 6500 will defend Australia’s shores, with Lockheed Martin Australia’s Liam Catterson