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Thales’ munitions factory at Mulwala is celebrating 75 years of delivering a key sovereign industrial munitions capability to support the Australian Defence Force.
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The Mulwala facility, originally commissioned during World War II and now operated by Thales Australia trading as Australian Munitions, continues to be a vital support facility for the ADF, manufacturing propellant and explosives for Army, Navy and Air Force.
Australian Munitions managing director Dion Habner said, "The major investment by the Australian government in the facility over the past decade has created the world’s most modern propellant manufacturing plant, able to serve the ADF’s needs for decades to come."
The new long-term strategic agreement on munitions manufacturing announced in February 2018 will underpin further investment and safeguard nearly 700 jobs across the Benalla and Mulwala facilities.
Further investment in research and innovation by Thales has created world-class capabilities at Mulwala in the development of a propellant that is now rated as the world’s best for its ballistic performance
"In addition to the investment by the Commonwealth, Thales is investing in R&D, manufacturing equipment and export promotion that is driving innovation in this business. The new long-term strategic agreement on munitions manufacturing that is currently in negotiation will underpin further investment and safeguard the nearly 700 jobs across the Mulwala and Benalla facilities," Habner said.
Australian Munitions is a business of Thales Australia and is the largest supplier of explosive ordnance to the ADF, with a successful record delivering ammunition, propellants, explosives and related services. Australian Munitions is also a principal supplier of small arms ammunition to the New Zealand Defence Force. Australian Munitions also produces high quality propellant and ammunition for military and civilian domestic and international customers.
"Mulwala and the sister facility in Benalla truly are the home of munitions manufacturing in Australia and together constitute the sovereign industrial capability in munitions for all the services," Habner said.
Australian Munitions can trace its ammunition heritage back to the late 19th century, through the establishment of the Colonial Ammunition Company in Victoria and played a key role restructuring the Australian munitions manufacturing industry landscape over the final decade of the 20th century.
Manufacturing is based at two main regional sites – Benalla in Victoria and Mulwala in NSW. The Benalla site produces ammunition, explosive ordnance and other munitions, while the Mulwala site focuses on high quality propellants and explosives.
Australian Munitions is a manufacturer of military grade propellants, high explosives, pyrotechnics, small arms ammunition, medium/large calibre munitions, aerial delivered ordnance, grenades and explosive charges.
