NIOA has commenced primary explosives manufacturing at the Government-owned Contractor-operated (GOCO) munitions facility in Benalla, Victoria.

NIOA’s manufacture of primary explosives for the Australian Defence Force’s F1A1 Grenade, in collaboration with Benalla co-tenants Australian Munitions, is an important achievement in assuring ongoing sovereign supply.

It marks the expansion of NIOA’s sovereign manufacturing capabilities to provide explosives, components and products to meet ADF requirements for capabilities such as grenades and detonators.

This is a significant step since the primary explosives manufacturing precinct at Benalla transitioned to NIOA in 2024.

The NIOA tenancy at Benalla maintains the Commonwealth’s capabilities for the manufacture of primary energetics, pyrotechnics, medium calibre, mortar and tank ammunition, hand grenades, fuzes, primers, along with various laboratory test facilities.

NIOA Australia and New Zealand CEO Ben James said: “NIOA’s production of primary energetics at Benalla is a key milestone in collaboration between NIOA, the Commonwealth, explosive manufacture regulatory bodies and a range of domestic suppliers.

“NIOA maintains a deep commitment to work with the Commonwealth in growing safe and scalable primary explosive manufacturing capability to support current and future ADF sovereign munitions requirements.

“Our ongoing investment in these manufacturing capabilities, along with our integrated approach with co-tenants Australian Munitions, will improve resilience of the ADF’s munitions supply chains.”

NIOA has invested more than $12m in Benalla where it also operates 30mm Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle, 35mm cannon and 120mm Abrams tank ammunition manufacturing capabilities.

NIOA has begun production of primary explosives at the Benalla munitions manufacturing facility in regional Victoria.