Authored by Cindy Li via The Epoch Times,
Australia has been identified as a potential supplier of weapons and munitions for the United States in a new proposal aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the world’s largest military in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise, a joint effort with the United States, aims to establish local production facilities for missiles and munitions in Australia.
Launched in 2021, the project has received a government commitment of $16–21 billion over the next decade.
Despite some advancements, such as the release of Australia’s GWEO Plan in late 2024, the project still faces challenges.
A recent report titled “Partnering for forward deterrence in the Indo-Pacific: Overcoming barriers to U.S.-Australia cooperation on Australia’s GWEO Enterprise,” by the University of Sydney’s U.S. Studies Center, indicates that the project’s progress has not kept pace with the deteriorating security situation in the region.
Recommendations for US and Australia
The report, led by Dr. Cynthia R. Cook, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, suggests that the U.S. government should invest more resources into the GWEO, which could address U.S. munitions shortages by expanding the American industrial base and involving Australia in it.
For Australia, this collaboration could enhance U.S. confidence in Australian strategic and industrial capabilities and drive regulatory reforms.
The report also emphasizes the importance of mapping out the munitions supply chain and identifying weaknesses for the initiative to succeed.
‘America First’ Means Closer Integration With Allies: Analyst
Mark Cao, a military and aerospace commentator from the channel Mark Space, believes that the integration is viable, citing the meeting between U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles in February.
The two officials highlighted defense industrial cooperation on munitions as a key opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations.
“Since Australia’s weapons systems heavily rely on U.S. technology, the GWEO program focuses on joint ventures with American defense contractors to domestically produce the required guided weapons,” he stated to The Epoch Times.
As part of this initiative, the Australian government has signed a contract worth A$37.4 million with Lockheed Martin Australia to commence local production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System missiles in 2025.
Additionally, the government plans to invest A$60 million over the next five years in developing hypersonic and long-range strike capabilities, and allocate A$22 million over the next three years to explore industry options for establishing a rocket motor manufacturing facility.
Test fire of a development Joint Strike Missile on the US Air Forces F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Courtesy of Kongsberg Defence Australia and the Australian Department of Defence.
Cao also supports the report’s advocacy for the White House to recognize GWEO as a crucial solution to U.S. munitions shortages.
“Despite the ‘America First’ slogan, the United States has strengthened cooperation with allies to ensure military readiness. For instance, to expedite maintenance of U.S. Navy warships, shipyards in South Korea and Japan have been commissioned for repairs, and South Korean shipbuilders have been involved in training skilled workers,” he noted.
“To hasten the delivery of 155 millimeter artillery shells to Ukraine, the U.S. initially drew from its stockpiles in South Korea and then purchased shells from South Korea to replenish its reserves.”
The military analyst highlighted that the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict, along with ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, has significantly depleted U.S. military readiness stockpiles.
“Australia’s GWEO program, operating in partnership with American defense contractors to produce U.S.-standard weapons, can benefit both countries by integrating into the U.S. military supply chain. Limited domestic production in Australia would lead to higher costs, but integration would enhance U.S. ammunition supplies and reduce costs,” he explained.
US Scepticism an Issue
Carl Schuster, former director of operations at U.S. Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, expressed caution regarding the project.
“Unfortunately, American politicians and the military-industrial complex view all bilateral and multilateral projects as detrimental to U.S. industry,” he stated to The Epoch Times.
Schuster highlighted Australia’s unwavering support for the United States in conflicts since World War I as a reason to consider an exception in this case.
“No other ally has shown such loyalty and reliability. Moreover, U.S. industry lacks the workforce to expand at the required pace for readiness in this decade. We need and can rely on Australia. The challenge lies in negotiating a division of labor and funding between U.S. and Australian leaders,” he emphasized.
Australia’s Minister of Defence Richard Marles (C) and Minister of Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy (R) announce the accelerated delivery of Australia’s first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) at the Australian International Airshow in Avalon on March 24, 2025. Australia’s army has received its first delivery of a “game changer” mobile long-range US rocket system, the government said on March 24. William West/AFP via Getty Images
Schuster, an instructor at the Department of History in Hawaii Pacific University, noted the ongoing skepticism towards the U.S.-Australia relationship.
“This skepticism is fueled by America’s strategic missteps in the past two decades, such as the Iraq invasion and failed Afghan policies, as well as the Obama administration’s neglect of the Indo-Pacific until the final years of his tenure,” he remarked, pointing out the lack of substantial resources redirected to the Pacific during that time.
He also mentioned the policy inconsistencies that have contributed to distrust and hindered long-term agreements.
“The constant policy shifts between administrations erode trust and diminish the willingness to engage in lasting partnerships,” Schuster concluded.
Overall, Schuster supported the GWEO initiative as beneficial for both countries and suggested closer integration with Japan and South Korea.
“Japanese warship designs are tailored for the Indo-Pacific, while European designs are more suited for operations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean,” he added.
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