The contract award will see BAE Systems’ Edinburgh Parks facility in South Australia triple current production to over 1000 PRS units over the next six years as KONGSBERG delivers Joint Strike Missiles to Australia, the US Air Force, Japan and a growing number of partner nations.
BAE Systems is Australia’s specialist manufacturer of missile control and guidance systems with a heritage in Electronic Warfare (EW) dating back decades. KONGSBERG’s JSM is highly effective against maritime and land targets and is the only anti-ship cruise missile that can be carried internally within the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
The partnership between BAE Systems and KONGSBERG to develop the PRS dates back to 2009 when the two companies conducted a study into EW applications and products for the JSM. This was followed by sponsored studies assessing feasibility, power and weight, as well as investment by Commonwealth of Australia and the Norwegian Ministry of Defence.
The supply agreement is underscored by a long-term commitment from both BAE Systems and KONGSBERG to sign a longer-term cooperative agreement out to 2040.
Andrew Gresham, Managing Director of Defence Delivery at BAE Systems Australia, said:
“The Passive Radio Frequency Sensor is highly innovative technology designed, developed, and built in Australia. It is a world leading capability and a critical enhancing component of the Joint Strike Missile.
“This is a significant achievement for our manufacturing teams at Edinburgh Parks and an innovation success story that has required more than a decade of commitment from our employees and our partner KONGSBERG.
“The contract illustrates our company’s focus on investing in Research & Development and turning the outcomes into real cutting-edge technology for use on the battlefield.”
Ref number: 157/2024
Image: KONGSBERG