Aussie defence firm NIOA opens outpost in key US arsenal
Brisbane munitions company NIOA has launched a permanent outpost in the heart of the US Army’s armaments development garrison as part of its investment push.
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Brisbane munitions company NIOA has launched a permanent outpost in the heart of the US Army’s armaments development garrison in New Jersey as part of its investment push into the $US307bn ($460.5bn) defence sector.
NIOA this week officially opened the company’s office at Picatinny Arsenal, which leads research, development and acquisition of advanced conventional weapon systems and ammunition for the US military.
NIOA, which is the largest Australian-owned supplier of munitions to the Australian Defence Force (ADF), bought Tennessee-based army sniper rifle supplier Barrett Firearms in 2022.
It also has signed an agreement with US company L3Harris Aerojet Rocketdyne to explore the manufacture of critical guided weapons components.
NIOA chief executive Robert Nioa said the company was committed to expanding collaboration with the US defence industry as part of the investment push.
“Opening a permanent office at the US Army’s centre for munitions research provides a gateway for us to grow our presence in the US and work more closely with America’s longstanding allies, particularly its AUKUS partners in the UK and Australia,” said Mr Nioa.
“We are excited about the opportunities this will bring, not only for our company but for the broader goals of our allied defence forces.”
Major-General John T Reim, commanding general of the Picatinny Arsenal, joined senior military officials, NIOA executives and other US defence company executives for the ceremonial ribbon cutting this week.
NIOA is the first Australian-owned company to be granted a tenancy at Picatinny. It has longstanding relationships with American companies such as General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman and Winchester, each of which also have offices at Picatinny. Picatinny Arsenal has a workforce of more than 6000 across key defence organisations.
Earlier this year, leading US defence industry executive Dan Olson was appointed to the NIOA advisory board, joining former US Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Ellen Lord.
Mr Nioa said the US government had released a number of strategic documents and policy statements about the defence industrial base recently, calling for co-development, co-production and co-sustainment with close allies. “Australia is certainly uniquely positioned as an AUKUS partner in the Indo-Pacific,” said Mr Nioa. “NIOA aims to build its presence in the US as well as across the AUKUS to support our coalition efforts. It is our generational obligation to address the challenges the world is facing with the rise of great power competition once again.”
Last November, NIOA signed a deal with L3Harris Technologies as part of Australia’s multibillion-dollar guided missile program. Under the agreement NIOA will examine manufacturing critical guided weapons components in Australia.
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Originally published as Aussie defence firm NIOA opens outpost in key US arsenal
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