Queensland small arms manufacturer NIOA has been awarded a major defence contract to supply more than 30 different munitions to Australia’s military over the next five years.
The five-year contract is initially valued at $95 million, with an option to extend to 15 years.
The company has developed a purpose-built facility adjacent to Brisbane Airport which includes a state-of-the-art indoor firing range enabling weapon and ammunition testing in controlled conditions.
Established in 1973, NIOA is Australia’s largest privately-owned company supplying weapons, ammunition and technical support to commercial, military and law enforcement markets.
Defence Industry minister Christopher Pyne said that the company’s global supply arrangement means the Australian Defence Force will use the latest technology, while creating jobs in Brisbane.
“NIOA has been a supplier of munitions for many years, and this contract represents their growing success as an Australian business and an important part of our defence industry,” Pyne said.
“This contract ensures the ADF will have a reliable source of munitions, ranging from small arms to 120mm M1A1 Abrams tank ammunition.