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CONTACT magazine
A range of (inert) 155mm Assegai ammunition on display at the NIOA stand at Land Forces 2018 in Adelaide. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
Australian News Science & Technology 

NIOA lands huge German Army order before building factory

30/04/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5031 Views 0 Comments

NIOA welcomes the announcement by joint-venture partner Rheinmetall Waffe Munitions [RWM] that the first orders for artillery shells from the

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Australian 5.56mm ammunition. Photo by Sergeant John Waddell.
Australian News Science & Technology 

NIOA to take bigger footprint at Benalla

23/01/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3810 Views 0 Comments

Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne today announced the government was taking a new approach to the long-term tenancy arrangements at

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Australian soldiers from Mortar Platoon 2RAR fire a salvo during operations in the Chora Valley, Afghanistan. Photo by Corporal Hamish Paterson.
Australian Australian Army News Science & Technology 

NIOA wins 81mm mortar ammo contract

17/12/201817/12/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 6615 Views 0 Comments

NIOA has been awarded a three-year contract to supply the ADF with 81mm practice and high-explosive mortar ammunition. FILE PHOTO

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A NIOA employee goes full auto with a Colt M4A1-AU on the range to test the durability of EC Paint under extreme conditions. NIOA photo.
ADF Australian News Science & Technology 

NIOA extreme-tests weapon paint for ADF

08/11/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3644 Views 0 Comments Armaments Systems Program Office, ARMTSPO, NIOA

The ADF’s Armaments Systems Program Office (ARMTSPO) recently commissioned NIOA to undertake suitability trials for a specialist weapon paint system

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LWMMG in .338 Norma Magnum displayed by NIOA at Land forces in Adelaide. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
Australian News Science & Technology 

NIOA displays new heavy-hitting machine gun

07/09/201807/09/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 11669 Views 2 Comments .338 Norma Magnum, LWMMG

Improvements in battlefield optics have extended the range of the modern battlespace creating a new requirement for a round such

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A range of (inert) 155mm Assegai ammunition on display at the NIOA stand at Land Forces 2018 in Adelaide. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
Australian News Science & Technology 

NIOA to take up tenancy at Benalla munitions factory

06/09/201806/09/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4272 Views 0 Comments Benalla, NIOA

Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne announced on Tuesday that Australian company NIOA is to take up a tenancy at the

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Australian 5.56mm ammunition. Photo by Sergeant John Waddell.
ADF Australian News 

NIOA wins $95 million munitions contract

30/11/201730/11/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5320 Views 0 Comments ammunition, munitions

Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne yesterday congratulated NIOA on being awarded a major Defence contract to supply more than

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Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, stand ready to load M795 high explosive rounds into an M777 lightweight 155mm howitzer during a live-fire exercise in California. US Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Sean Searfus, 1st Marine Division.
ADF News Sovereign industry 

Govt’s new announcement on 155mm production

09/06/202609/06/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1023 Views 0 Comments M795

The Albanese Government has finally signed a $72 million contract with Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions to establish a new forging capability

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Lest We Forget 

Cooktown Airfield 1942, Ops Base 27 and a Story Worth the Telling.

12/04/202517/04/2025 Geoff Clarke 2380 Views 2 Comments

He left school in grade three to go to work with his father on the bullock wagons pulling huge logs

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The Australian Defence Force has selected the F9 pistol as its newest sidearm. Its lightweight design and high-capacity magazine make it a top choice for military use. Photo by Corporal Janet Pan.
ADF News 

ADF gets new pistol

04/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 6285 Views 0 Comments

With the new F9 sidearm weapon system (F9 SWS) in hand, personnel have begun pulling the trigger on a new

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An American HIMARS in action. Story by Private Nicholas Marquis.
Australian News Sovereign industry 

Australia to build GMLRS and forge M795s for ADF and export

03/11/202409/11/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4786 Views 2 Comments GMLRS, GWEO Enterprise, HIMARS

The government has announced more initiatives in the domestic manufacturing of missiles and munitions at scale. FILE PHOTO: An American

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A worker on the production line examines a freshly forged 155mm artillery-shell casing at the Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions factory in Maryborough, Queensland. Photo supplied.
Australian News Sovereign industry 

First exports shipped from Queensland munitions plant

03/05/202303/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5908 Views 3 Comments Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions

Defence manufacturer Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions’ Queensland artillery shell plant is growing exponentially as it takes another important step towards full-rate

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Flying Officer Kevin Pfitzner, a C-130J pilot with 37SQN at RAAF Base Richmond. Story by Tegan Smith.
Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy 

Base-support services should improve under new contracts

07/02/202308/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3380 Views 0 Comments

Services to Defence bases and establishments around the country are set to improve through the next generation of contracts. FILE

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SIG Sauer's MCX in .300 Blackout calibre [7.62×35mm] [a sub-sonic round] has been selected as the ADF's new personal rifle to replace the 5.56mm Steyr. Photo Sergeant Tristan Kennedy.
ADF News 

ADF brings more 7.62mm into service

01/10/202208/10/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 48546 Views 58 Comments Accuracy International AX-SR, Barrett M107A1, Benelli M3A1, SIG Sauer MCX, Sig Sauer P320

EDITOR’s NOTE: I have edited my headline and photo caption to correct my assumption that the SIG Sauer MCX would replace

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Patrick Warner of Thales Australia examines cartridge cases for 5.56mm ammunition during the manufacturing process at Benalla, Victoria.
ADF Australian News Science & Technology 

Billion-dollar Benalla boost

29/06/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3965 Views 0 Comments

Defence has signed a 10-year agreement with Thales for continued management and operation of Australia’s munition factories in Benalla and Mulwala.

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One of the first two Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning Joint Strike Fighters flies overhead RAAF Base Williamtown on delivery day. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
Australian News Science & Technology 

Aussie company to produce JSF ammo at Benalla

25/03/202025/03/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3744 Views 0 Comments

In an Australian first, Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions is set to produce and export ammunition for the US F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.

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Image courtesy NIOA web site.
Australian News Science & Technology 

Starter’s gun fired on new Queensland artillery forge

20/03/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3930 Views 0 Comments

Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions [RNM] is pleased to announce it will commence construction of a $60 million state-of-the-art munitions forging facility

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M777 artillery fire at High Range Training Area. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
Australian News Science & Technology 

New artillery-shell plant for regional Queensland

07/11/201807/11/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4175 Views 0 Comments artillery ammunition, NIOA, Rheinmetall

The Federal government will support a proposal to establish an advanced forging and manufacturing facility in regional Queensland to produce

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The new Carl-Gustaf M4 displayed at the Saab stand at Land Forces 2018 in Adelaide. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
Australian Australian Army News Science & Technology 

Army orders new Carl-Gustaf M4

06/09/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 9917 Views 1 Comment Carl Gustaf M4, Saab

The Australian Army has placed an order for several hundred new Carl-Gustaf® M4 84mm multi-role weapon systems. CAPTION: The new Carl-Gustaf M4

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MK47 Light Weight Automatic Grenade Launcher, now integrated with Elbit Systems Battle Management System.
Australian News Science & Technology 

Battle Management System integrated onto grenade launcher

06/09/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 7110 Views 0 Comments

NIOA Press Statement… The adoption of Elbit Systems Australia’s revolutionary Battle Management System (BMS) under the Project LAND 200 Tranche

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CONTACT Air Land & Sea plus COMBAT Camera magazines were past publications of this business. Digital copies of both magazines can be viewed or downloaded via our Archives (see menus).

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