Thales Australia conducted a safe test firing of an Australian rocket motor manufactured at Australia Munitions’ site in Mulwala, NSW.
The locally manufactured Jones rocket motor was co-designed with Southern Launch, an innovative Australian SME that provides launch services and bespoke rocket subsystems.
Dion Habner, Managing Director of Australia Munitions, said the rocket motor firing was a ‘core risk mitigation step’ in a joint program aimed at expanding Australia’s sovereign guided weapons manufacturing capability by evaluating local rocket motor nozzle design and materials.
“This represents a critical milestone in the return to routine rocket motor manufacturing at the Mulwala Munitions facility,” Mr Habner said.
“In the late 1990s advanced warhead and rocket motor facilities were established at Mulwala and since then advanced warheads, military rocket motors and ignition systems have been safely manufactured on site.
“Every day, high explosives and propellants are produced for systems used by Australian and allied forces, including the explosive effectors for GBU-12 aerial laser-guided bombs.
“Testing activities are a routine part of operations in Australia’s sovereign munition manufacturing facility at Mulwala.”
Thales Australia, which works with more than 600 Australian suppliers, is the nation’s largest manufacturer of munitions, propellant and military explosives and manages the government owned contractor operated (GOCO) sites in Benalla, Victoria and Mulwala, NSW.
