newy.com.au – Construction is progressing on Kongsberg’s new missile factory at Williamtown, with Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy inspecting the site as the project moves towards planned production in 2027.
The Kongsberg Missile Factory is being built at the Astra Aerolab Defence & Aerospace Precinct, beside Newcastle Airport and near RAAF Base Williamtown. Kongsberg hosted the site visit with Newcastle Airport and Multiplex Construction, which is building the facility. Federal Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson also attended.
The factory will support Australia’s push to build more guided weapons capability locally. It is planned to manufacture and service Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile and Joint Strike Missile for the Australian Defence Force and international partners.
The project follows a contract signed between Defence and Kongsberg Defence Australia in March 2025 to establish what Defence described as Australia’s first guided weapons production factory. It came after the Federal Government announced in August 2024 that the Williamtown site would be used for the facility.
Kongsberg Defence Australia managing director John Fry said the project was an important step in building sovereign capability.
The factory is expected to create more than 500 jobs during construction and about 100 ongoing skilled positions once operational. It is also intended to support local supply chains and strengthen the Hunter’s role in defence and advanced manufacturing.
Newcastle Airport chief executive Linc Horton said the project reinforced Astra Aerolab’s position as a defence and aerospace precinct, while Multiplex said the build marked its first defence project in NSW.
The Williamtown facility forms part of the broader Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise, a national program aimed at improving Australia’s ability to produce, maintain and sustain guided weapons.
Production at the factory is expected to begin in 2027.
