Lockheed Martin Australia and Rheinmetall Defence Australia are exploring a collaboration to establish an Australia-based sustainment and maintenance-support network for the Australian Army’s growing High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) fleet.
The companies say the work will assess how existing Australian infrastructure and specialist skills could be aligned into a local sustainment model for the launchers, including use of Rheinmetall’s Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Queensland and existing facilities in South Australia.
In the release, the companies positioned sustainment and through-life support as central to operational readiness and “value for money” as the Army expands its long-range fires capability. The proposed approach is framed around leveraging existing facilities rather than duplicating new ones.
Rheinmetall’s MILVEHCOE site at Ipswich is described as a heavy vehicle sustainment and manufacturing facility with specialist tooling, engineering expertise and secure infrastructure. The companies said they are examining how the Queensland site could support heavy-grade repair and specialist maintenance for HIMARS, complementing depot-level and unit-level sustainment activities already in South Australia.
The companies also said the initiative would focus on upskilling Australian technicians, engineers and systems specialists to support HIMARS and contribute to the broader defence industrial base. The release stated the model could generate skilled employment across Queensland and South Australia, including engineering, technical trades, logistics, supply chain management and systems integration roles.
The proposed sustainment work is also presented as an opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises to supply parts, repair services and logistics support.
The release said the initiative aligns with the Australian Government’s Sovereign Defence Industrial Priority 3, which focuses on the sustainment and enhancement of the combined-arms land system.
