Australia forges ahead with 155mm ammo production

Australia awarded a A$72 million contract to Rheinmetall Nioa Munitions (RNM) to produce M795 155mm artillery shells at its Maryborough facility in Queensland, marking the first production of these shells outside North America. The deal reverses a prior 2024 contract with Thales Australia, which was canceled in 2025, and aims to meet high global demand, including for Ukraine, while enhancing Australia’s defense supply chain sovereignty.