Varley Rafael Australia (VRA) and Thales Australia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore future Australian production of the RAFAEL SPIKE family of guided weapons.
The companies say the move enables the 'accelerated delivery' of a Sovereign Guided Weapons manufacturing and sustainment capability in support of the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise.
The immediate focus of the collaboration is the review of manufacturing the SPIKE LR2 Anti-Tank Guided Missile’s advanced rocket propulsion system, warheads, hot-integration and associated storage requirements.
The SPIKE LR2 ATGM is a 5th generation precision guided weapon system selected for the Land 400 and Land 159 Lethality System programs.
According to VRA, a transfer of Technology (ToT) program will upskill Australian industry to deliver domestic guided missile production and comprehensive in-service support to the ADF.
VRA, from its facility in South East Melbourne, has recently completed the manufacture of SPIKE Integration Kits (SIKs) for Boxer vehicles and is currently engaged by the Commonwealth to support Technical Certification of the SPIKE LR2 ATGM towards the missile's introduction into service.
VRA and Thales Australia have also begun reviewing and advancing SPIKE LR2 sovereign supply and sustainment capability. The companies say they will bring new SMEs into the GWEO enterprise ecosystem.