Varley Rafael Australia (VRA) announced today that the company and Thales Australia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore future Australian production of RAFAEL’s SPIKE family of guided weapons.
The SPIKE LR2 ATGM is a precision-guided weapon system of the fifth generation chosen for the Land 400 and Land 159 Lethality System projects.
According to the press release, the move allows for the “accelerated delivery” of a Sovereign Guided Weapons production and sustainment capacity to serve the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise.
The collaboration’s immediate focus is on constructing the SPIKE LR2 Anti-Tank Guided Missile’s sophisticated rocket propulsion system, warheads, hot-integration, and related storage needs.
According to VRA, a transfer of Technology (ToT) program will upskill the Australian industry to deliver domestic guided missile production and comprehensive in-service support to the ADF.
From its facility in South East Melbourne, VRA has recently completed the manufacture of SPIKE Integration Kits (SIKs) for Boxer vehicles and is currently engaged by the Commonwealth to support Technical Certification of the SPIKE LR2 ATGM towards the missile’s introduction into service.
VRA and Thales Australia have also started studying and developing SPIKE LR2 sovereign supply and sustainment capabilities. The companies say they will bring new SMEs into the GWEO enterprise ecosystem.
VRA is a partnership between the Australian Varley Group and the Israeli RAFAEL Advanced Defence Systems.
