Thales Australia and Winchester Australia have signed a strategic teaming agreement to cooperate on Australian market opportunities.
With complementary backgrounds and capabilities, the partnership combines the strengths of two of the leading names in Australian munitions and creates numerous avenues for productive collaboration.
This local partnership reflects the global strengths of two companies with significant international operations and expertise. Thales’s munitions operations in Europe include Thales Advanced Weapon Systems, Thales Missile Electronics, a 45% stake in fuzes specialist Junghans Microtec, plus TDA Armements and Forges de Zeebrugge (FZ).
Winchester Ammunition, a division of Olin Corporation, has been manufacturing ammunition for more than a century, and is one of the world's most recognisable and respected brands. In addition to its commercial products, Winchester has been providing ammunition to the US military since World War I, and operates two major US manufacturing facilities.
Winchester Australia has a manufacturing and distribution facility in Geelong, Victoria, and has been a supplier of ammunition and firearms to defence and law enforcement agencies in Australia since 1967.
The new agreement between Thales Australia and Winchester Australia builds on an existing relationship of mutual supply and production collaboration.
The two companies will immediately focus on opportunities in both the defence and non-defence markets. Beyond this, the agreement enables Thales to develop more cost effective solutions for key products currently supplied to the Department of Defence under existing contracts.
Chris Jenkins, Thales Australia’s CEO, said: “Winchester is one of the world’s leading small arms businesses, with an unrivalled pedigree in small arms ammunition stretching back to its founding in the US almost 150 years ago. We firmly believe that our two companies have much to offer our customers by working together.”
Clive Pugh, Winchester Australia’s Director and General Manager, said: “The opportunity to assist Thales develop defence and commercial markets is a very exciting step for us. There is a strong complementary fit between our operations and we are looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.”