The United States is preparing to set up its first overseas factory to manufacture Lockheed Martin’s guided long-range missiles, including the GMLRS system that was supplied to Ukraine during the ongoing conflict. The Wall Street Journal reports this development, citing officials from both the United States and Australia.
Production is expected to start at a military base on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia. The move marks a notable shift in how the U.S. defense industry seeks to sustain weapon supply chains amid rising global tensions. Officials say that domestic capacity has not kept pace with demand, driven by heightened conflicts in the Middle East and in Ukraine, prompting a strategy that blends domestic production with international assembly steps. Partially assembled GMLRS missiles will be produced in the United States before undergoing further work in Australia for final assembly and testing.
Jeff Jurgensen, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense, underscored the growing importance of precision-guided munitions like GMLRS and PrSM in modern combat planning. The evolving landscape of advanced missiles is prompting closer collaboration with allied nations to ensure rapid provisioning and interoperability across force structures.
In December, the U.S. State Department approved the transfer of $2 billion worth of military training equipment to Australia, a move that complements broader defense cooperation and readiness initiatives in the region.
Earlier reports indicated that Ukraine would also receive GMLRS missiles from the United States, highlighting a persistent emphasis on precision strike capabilities in ongoing support programs.