Home reports Industry Diehl Defense and Australian SMA want to cooperate on guided missiles

Laser Guided Sidewinder — By converting missiles of the AIM-9L series, a "powered effector of short range", as it was officially called, was to be created, with which one no longer fought targets in the air but on the ground. (Graphics: Diehl Defence)

Diehl Defense and Australian SMA want to cooperate on guided missiles

March 2, 2022

The Australian Sovereign Missile Alliance (SMA) wants to work with the German armaments company Diehl Defense in the field of guided missiles. The cooperation will "provide the opportunity for further applications of Diehl Defense's guided missile capabilities" while the Australian defense industry benefits from the transfer of proven technology, Diehl writes in a statement. This makes Diehl a "strong contributor" to SMA and the Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise.

Den Angaben zufolge handelt es sich bei der SMA um ein Gemeinschaftsunternehmen der mittelständischen australischen Unternehmen Electro Optic Systems Pty Ltd (EOS) und Nova Systems. Die Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise wurde laut Mitteilung vom australischen Premierminister im Jahr 2021 mit dem Ziel ins Leben gerufen, Australiens Unabhängigkeit bei Lenkwaffen sowie die Lieferkettensicherheit zu erhöhen. Langfristig sollen nationale Fertigungskapazitäten für Lenkwaffen aufgebaut werden.

According to Diehl, SMA will act as a strategic industrial partner for the Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise. SMA can draw on the expertise of more than 1,000 Australian employees and annual sales of around 500 million Australian dollars. Diehl Defense has been working with EOS in the area of land-based weapon stations for some time. With the Iris-T series, among other things, the German company has guided missile expertise in the areas of air-to-air and surface-to-air.

According to the announcement, Diehl Defense is interested in merging with SMA on a non-exclusive basis. In addition, this cooperation will strengthen the bond between Diehl Defense and the Australian defense industry - in particular through the already announced production contract with EOS.

According to EOS CEO Ben Greene, the cooperation with Diehl Defense will bring world-leading technology to Australia.

lah / editorial

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