Kongsberg opens production facility in South Australia

Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (Kongsberg) has announced the opening of its new facility in Adelaide, where the company will support acquisition and sustainment programs including strike missiles, air defence and remote weapon stations for the Australian armed forces.

The facility was officially opened by Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy, together with Norway’s Minister of Defence, Bjørn Arild Gram.

“We are delighted to open the first Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace facility in the Asia–Pacific region, and to support Australian acquisition and sustainment programs nationally. We are fully committed to supporting sovereign Australian industry capability through Kongsberg Defence Australia. We believe in the importance of building and sustaining critical capabilities within Australia, ensuring that the nation remains secure and self-reliant,” said Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

The new facility was opened just two years after Kongsberg decided to invest $25 million in a 2500 m² facility located on the 6000 m² site in Adelaide.

“The opening marks a major milestone for Kongsberg in Australia,” said John Fry, Managing Director of Kongsberg Defence Australia. “We are dedicated to contributing to the nation’s defence strategy by ensuring that critical capabilities are developed and sustained within Australia with the support of our growing workforce. Bringing advanced technologies and expertise from Norway to Australia will enhance the capabilities of the Australian Defence Force.”

The facility will support acquisition and sustainment programs including Naval Strike Missile (NSM) for the Navy, the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS), CORTEX C4 for Protected Mobile Fires and Protector Remote Weapon Stations for the Australian Army through local manufacture, assembly, integration, test, verification and training.

In addition to new site in Adelaide, the Australian Government recently announced its decision to invest in the construction of a new factory for Kongsberg strike missiles in Newcastle. The factory will manufacture and service Kongsberg’s strike missiles to be used by the Australian Defence Force. Construction of the factory is expected to start later this year.