New head of GWEO Enterprise announced
The government today appointed the inaugural head of the new Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise.
FILE PHOTO: Air Vice-Marshal Leon Phillips. Photo by Sergeant Nicci Freeman.
Head of Aerospace Systems Division Air Vice-Marshal Leon Phillips will be promoted to Air Marshal and will commence his new role on 8 May 2023.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy congratulated Air Vice-Marshal Phillips on his appointment to this important role, which will oversee the delivery of the ADF’s guided weapons and explosive ordnance requirements.
“Air Vice-Marshal Phillips has more than 36 years of experience in the Royal Australian Air Force, predominantly delivering highly complex aerospace projects and managing their in-service support,” Minister Conroy said.
“He has a strong track record of establishing effective partnerships with defence industry.
“I look forward to working with Air Marshal Phillips and Australia’s defence industry on delivering critical capabilities we need for our national security.”
The GWEO Enterprise will accelerate the establishment of a local long-range guided-weapons and munitions-manufacturing industry in Australia.
The Defence Strategic Review recommended the appointment of a senior officer with the sole responsibility of leading the GWEO Enterprise, reporting directly to the Secretary of the Department of Defence and the Chief of the Australian Defence Force.
A key recommendation of the Defence Strategic Review was to accelerate and expand weapons systems, including land-based maritime strike and long-range missile launchers – to be complemented by investments to replenish our GWEO stocks and to establish sovereign missile and munition manufacturing facilities in Australia.
In response, the government has committed $2.5billion over the forward estimates for GWEO, an increase of more than $1.5billion.
This investment will help fund the manufacture of guided weapons and their critical components to improve the ADF’s self-reliance and Australia’s export capacity.
In total, the government is committing $4.1billion over the forward estimates to acquire more long-range strike systems and manufacture longer-range munitions here in Australia.
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