Lockheed Martin Australia has awarded a contract to Moog Australia to develop the control actuation system (CAS) for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), a key precision-strike munition.

Under the agreement, Moog Australia will plan a domestic pilot production line dedicated to the CAS and collaborate with Australian industry partners for the manufacture of essential components, supporting the broader sovereign missile capability effort.

The CAS is critical for the missile’s steering and stabilization functions, integrating fin control actuation and flight correction systems that enable the missile to meet modern guidance requirements.

As part of the contract, Moog Australia will leverage embedded engineering expertise from its U.S. parent corporation to accelerate knowledge transfer and strengthen local capability.

This award builds upon a previously announced 37.4 million Australian dollar (24.3 million U.S. dollar) contract between the Australian Government and Lockheed Martin Australia, signed in early 2024, to commence domestic production of GMLRS rounds from 2025. The initiative is part of Australia’s effort to establish a sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) capability.

The production plan includes locally manufactured rocket motors and warheads through partnerships such as the collaboration with Thales Australia, which will produce the solid rocket motors and warheads domestically.

Industry analysts view the CAS contract as a critical subsystem milestone within the broader missile production chain, showing that Australia is moving beyond assembly toward subsystem and component manufacturing.

Moog Australia Managing Director Bryan O’Connor said the company was excited to contribute to developing a sovereign missile capability and looks forward to working with Lockheed Martin Australia and the Australian GWEO team to help bring this critical capability to life.

The planned pilot production line highlights the government’s objective of creating a resilient defense industrial base that reduces offshore reliance and strengthens cooperation with allies.

With plans to produce up to 4,000 GMLRS missiles annually — more than a quarter of current global output and over ten times the Australian Defence Force’s present demand — this contract marks an essential step in operationalizing domestic manufacturing.

It is expected to support advanced manufacturing jobs and enhance regional security through deeper integration with allied supply chains for long-range precision munitions.

While the full cost and timeline for Moog Australia’s pilot line remain undisclosed, the award arrives amid global competition in missile production and heightened emphasis on supply-chain resilience.

Australia’s progression from assembly to subsystem design and production signals growing industrial maturity and strategic ambition within the Indo-Pacific defense landscape.