NIOA selected for LAND 159 Tranche 1

A team led by Queensland firm NIOA has been selected to deliver the first stage of a major weapons upgrade for the ADF under Tranche 1 of project LAND 159 Lethality System. The contract value hasn’t been disclosed.

This initial Tranche includes sniper rifles, laser sighting systems and close combat weapons, comprising fighting knives, pistols, shotguns and the assault breaching system.

“This investment will improve the lethality, situational awareness and survivability of men and women in uniform so they can successfully achieve their mission on operations both here and overseas,” said Minister for Defence Peter Dutton.

Project LAND 159 is designed to equip Australian service personnel with next-generation mission systems, surveillance and target acquisitions ancillaries, ammunitions, facilities and training and support systems.

NIOA General Manager, Weapons & Munitions, Ben James said the LAND 159 project represents a generational capability enhancement of small arms weapon systems for the ADF.

“In collaboration with the Commonwealth our dedicated team put hundreds of products through the most rigorous test and evaluation process to make the most robust recommendations to enable Defence to select the best weapon systems,” he said.

Tranche 1 is a multi-million dollar, multi-decade project that will generate 29 long-term jobs, primarily in Brisbane where NIOA has a purpose-built technical and testing centre, including an indoor firing range. The Australian-owned company has expanded significantly in recent years to become the largest Australian supplier of firearms, weapons and ammunition.

NIOA CEO Robert Nioa said the announcement was a tremendous endorsement of an Australian prime contractor which would result in the best equipment for the ADF while creating jobs.

“We have been collaborating with the Commonwealth on this program for two years and in the middle of a global pandemic,” he said. “Our rigorous best of breed approach combined with our technical expertise and market knowledge mean our warfighters can be confident that they will have the very best equipment to do their jobs safely and effectively.”

The LAND 159 Tranche 1 announcement follows existing NIOA munitions contracts with Defence, including LAND 17 – 1C.2 Future Artillery Ammunition, ammunition for the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles acquired under LAND 400 Phase 2, and more than 50 other strategic munitions for dismounted combatants.

The company is separately in a joint venture partner with Rheinmetall in a $60m artillery shell forging plant in Maryborough, Queensland which will come online later this year. The state-of-the-art factory will produce the world’s most technically advanced 155mm artillery and mortar projectiles.

NIOA has also announced its intention to build a $50 million small arms factory in either Brisbane, Lithgow in New South Wales, or Benalla in Victoria.