Overview
With more than $1 billion sold to allies across the world in the past decade, Nulka is both BAE Systems Australia and the country’s most successful defence export product.
Nulka has a unique and advanced design in that it hovers in mid-air while luring the incoming anti-ship missile.
The hovering rocket concept was initiated in Australia by the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), before we designed, developed and then manufactured the product.
We build the flight control hardware at our manufacturing facility in Edinburgh Parks in South Australia. We assemble and test the completed Nulka Round at the Nulka Round Assembly Facility in Mulwala, New South Wales.
Nulka is the aboriginal meaning for ‘be quick’.
Platform sustainment
We are responsible for the design, development and integration of the Nulka system.
The current $200 million upgrade project is a 20-year program that will include a new launch system and supporting technology to enhance the missile decoy’s effectiveness and will ensure that it continues protecting Australian and allied fleets well into the future.
The Nulka system is fitted to the Royal Australian Navy's Anzac and Hobart class frigates. The Canberra Class Amphibious Assault Ships (LHDs) and Hunter class frigates will also be equipped in the future.
Training, testing and upgrades
We undergo extensive training and testing for Nulka.
Ongoing training is essential as new technologies are evolving to ensure all personnel and sectors are up to date with Nulka’s advanced technology requirements. Alongside our colleagues at DSTO, we have provided advanced technology training to our Navy since the project began.
Under the Nulka upgrade, we continue to work with leading scientists and engineers from the DSTO to enhance the Nulka’s effectiveness, and to develop new technologies.
This will allow the missile decoy to stay up-to-date with advanced industry technologies, while remaining our most successful defence export.