The Sovereign Missile Alliance (SMA) joint venture company between Australia’s Electro Optic Systems Pty Ltd (EOS) and Nova Systems intends to work with German missile specialist Diehl Defence on the Australian Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise program.
SMA is one of several entities competing for work under the Australian government’s push to develop a sovereign guided-missile development and production capability.
The intention to establish such a capability in Australia was revealed in 2021, when the defense ministry said it would select an industry major to operate a weapons manufacturing capability on behalf of the government.
The new enterprise will support missile and guided weapons manufacturing for use across the Australian Defence Force.
SMA, together with EOS and Nova Systems, seeks to be a strategic industry partner and a key contributor to the enterprise.
SMA will be competing against the Australian Missile Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of NIOA, while industry majors such as Raytheon Australia, Lockheed Martin Australia, Konsberg and BAE Systems Australia are also expected to be in the running for the A$1 billion undertaking.
The proposed cooperation of Diehl Defence with the enterprise will provide the opportunity for further applications of its guided weapons capabilities. Germany-based Diehl Defence is a prime supplier and well-established contractor for guided weapons technology.
“The Sovereign Missile Alliance is dedicated to providing a family of sovereign guided weapons for the defense of Australia. This collaboration with Diehl Defence will bring world leading technology to Australia to enable this development to occur,” EOS’ founder and Group CEO, Dr Ben Greene said.
“Nova Systems and EOS are two Australian mid-tier defense entities of scale that are 100% Australian owned and controlled. The Sovereign Missile Alliance welcomes the commitment of Diehl Defence to participate in the Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise in key technological areas,” Jim McDowell, Group CEO of Nova Systems said.
“We are looking forward to intensifying the cooperation with our Australian partners. We will highly appreciate any opportunity to team up as one element within the Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise and provide guided missile expertise,” Helmut Rauch, CEO of Diehl Defence, added.
