Defence issues ITR for Australian fuze technology development

Defence has released an Invitation to Register (ITR) Interest in fuze development and manufacture. It is seeking a lead industry partner (together with their SME network and supply chain) to undertake Australian domestic prototype design, development and manufacture of two types of fuzes with semi-mature and preliminary Defence designs.

Responses are due 12 noon AEST 4 June 2025.

Defence hasn’t stated what types of weapon the fuzes are for though Defence’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise is already sponsoring the manufacture of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket (GMLRS) projectiles and 155mm artillery shells in Australia.

This ITR is funded by Defence’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise which is investing more than $60 million over five years to develop the next generation of guided weapons sub-systems and components. A separate ITR and subsequent Request for Tenders (RFT) will be issued for a single warhead package that is compatible with the fuzes acquired under this ITR.

The lead industry partner will be required to work collaboratively with DSTG to design and develop the prototypes, with Defence to retain design authority, in order to optimize the Australian domestic manufacturability of fuzes and inform future fuze industrialization.

Fuze Types

Stage 1 – An out-of-line electro-mechanical (EM) fuze, based on an existing semi-mature Defence design (work package 1),

Stage 2 – An in-line electronic (ILE) fuze, based on a preliminary Defence design (work package 2).

The work packages are designed to facilitate the industrialisation of domestic fuzes to Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 6, with a key outcome to inform future Australian domestic fuze design, development and manufacturing activities, as well as developing a diverse and sustained Australian domestic supply chain.

This call will be used to develop a shortlist of potential industry partners to be included in a subsequent RFT process for the fuze work packages.

DSTG has also published documentation related to this ITR

Invitation to Respond – ITR49499: 01 ITR 49499 – Cover Letter

Statement of Requirement – ITR49499: 04 ITR 49499 – Statement of Requirement