Moog Australia has been selected by Lockheed Martin Australia to design and produce the control actuation system (CAS) for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), a key part of the country’s expanding guided weapons program. The CAS provides precise in-flight steering and stabilization, ensuring the missile maintains accuracy throughout its trajectory.
As part of the new contract, Moog Australia will establish a pilot production line for the GMLRS CAS and collaborate with Australian defense manufacturers to supply critical system components. The effort is aimed at enhancing local defense manufacturing capability, reducing import dependency, and building a sustainable production ecosystem for guided weapon systems.
Drawing on engineering expertise from its US parent company, Moog will transfer technical know-how to support Australian engineers and accelerate system development. The partnership supports a AU$37.4 million (US$24.3 million) government agreement with Lockheed Martin signed in 2024, paving the way for GMLRS missile production to begin domestically this year. Thales Australia has also been tapped to produce rocket motors and explosive warheads for the locally built missiles.
Designed for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), the GMLRS has a range of more than 70 kilometers (43 miles) and has demonstrated exceptional accuracy in combat operations, notably in Ukraine. Australia plans to manufacture up to 4,000 GMLRS missiles annually, a scale that would account for over a quarter of the global output and exceed the Australian Defence Force’s current requirements tenfold — underscoring Canberra’s growing investment in defense self-reliance and export potential.
