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The global defence technology company is joining a local consortium proposing to lead the Commonwealth government’s sovereign guided weapons enterprise.
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QinetiQ has confirmed it will team up with the Australian Missile Cooperation (AMC), supporting the NIOA-led consortium’s bid to spearhead Defence’s $1 billion sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordinance (GWEO) Enterprise.
The firm is expected to leverage its local workforce of over 600 employees to deliver bespoke design and prototype engineering, structural integrity, range and facility management, and sovereign test and evaluation capabilities.
“By drawing on QinetiQ’s global experience across aerospace, land and maritime domains, the AMC will be well positioned to advance the Commonwealth government’s ambition in realising this important enterprise for the nation,” Robert Nioa, CEO of NIOA and the Australian Missile Corporation, said.
Greg Barsby, managing director of QinetiQ Australia, welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the sovereign munitions industry.
“QinetiQ is delighted to support the AMC in establishing this vital defence capability,” Barsby said.
“We operate world-class, independent T&E capabilities around the world and are actively investing to develop similar capabilities here in Australia.”
The announcement comes just days after he AMC hosted a working group to discuss its plans for the GWEO Enterprise.
The forum, established in partnership with the Queensland Defence Science Alliance (QDSA), was led by Commodore Nigel Smith, Director General GWEO Enterprise for Joint Capabilities Group, and NIOA advisory board member Ellen Lord.
QinetiQ is among a host of companies to join the AMC team, including Quickstep, Moog Australia, Black Sky Aerospace and Thomas Global Systems.
AMC will be competing against the Sovereign Missile Alliance — a joint bid between Nova Group and EOS Systems — and Lockheed Martin Australia’s collaboration with Thales Australia.
Defence is currently in the process of defining key requirements for the enterprise.
[Related: Australian Missile Corporation to host working group]
