Australia🇦🇺 has successfully test-fired its first batch of domestically produced Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles. This is a major milestone for the country’s defense industry, and it makes Australia the first nation outside the United States to manufacture and fire these weapons. The live-fire trials took place at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia, where Australian-made GMLRS rockets were launched from M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers operated by the Australian Army. The tests showed the rockets’ precision and reliability at long ranges, confirming their integration into Australia’s long-range strike capabilities.

Defense officials praised the event as an important step toward producing guided weapons at home. By assembling GMLRS missiles domestically, Australia aims to reduce its dependence on foreign supply chains, strengthen its readiness in a crisis, and build a sustainable local industrial base that can meet both national needs and those of allies. The rockets are currently being assembled in Australia using key components supplied from the United States, with plans to increase the share of Australian-made parts over time as local industry capacity expands.

The production line is located in South Australia and is expected to grow in the coming years, potentially positioning Australia as an important player in the global GMLRS supply network. GMLRS rockets, fired from systems like HIMARS, are GPS-guided munitions designed to strike targets at ranges well beyond traditional artillery. They provide commanders with accurate, rapid, and long-range firepower. The successful test-firing highlights Australia’s broader effort to improve its long-range strike and deterrence capabilities in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region.