Australia and Norway ink missile manufacturing MoU

Australia and Norway have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on missile manufacturing. The agreement focuses on producing advanced missiles locally in Australia, particularly the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and the Joint Strike Missile (JSM), both developed by the Norwegian company Kongsberg.

Key points:

· The MoU aims to establish a sovereign missile manufacturing capability in Australia, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.
· Kongsberg will play a central role in technology transfer and production setup.
· This partnership strengthens Australia's defense industrial base and supports the ADF's long-range strike capabilities.
· The move aligns with Australia's broader strategic shift toward self-reliance in munitions, especially in the Indo-Pacific context.

This is seen as a significant step in deepening defense ties between Australia and Norway, with implications for regional security and the global defense supply chain.