US to build HIMARS production plant in Australia
Kyiv • UNN
The United States plans to build a plant in Australia to produce ammunition for HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems to quickly replenish stocks.
The United States plans to build a separate plant to produce ammunition for HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, The Wall Street Journal reports, according to UNN.
The plant is to be opened on the territory of a military base on the outskirts of Sydney.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the rapid consumption of ammunition in Ukraine and the Middle East has complicated the ability of the US defense industry to replenish stocks quickly. President Joe Biden's administration is seeking to establish several additional production lines in allied countries to manufacture missiles.
U.S. officials say they are pleased with the momentum and speed of Australia's efforts. They say Australia has recently made rapid progress in producing much-needed artillery shells and is also involved in the development of Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), which can also be launched from Himars and have a longer range.
"Given the pace of developments in the Indo-Pacific region and the evolving competition with our closest adversaries, precision munitions such as GMLRS and PrSM are becoming increasingly important," said Pentagon spokesman Jeff Jurgensen, speaking about the strategic rivalry with China.
According to the plan, Lockheed, which currently produces GMLRS at only one plant in Camden, Arkansas, will hire six Australian engineers and send them to this plant to learn the production process. Lockheed will ship half-assembled missile parts from the United States to Australia, where they will be finalized on the new production line.
According to Australian officials, the first batch of about a dozen GMLRS assembled in Australia will be tested by the end of next year. By the end of the decade, Australia intends to produce thousands of missiles annually.
