UK and Australia launch new partnership in weapons development
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) in the UK and the Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group in Australia have formed a pioneering partnership aimed at developing next-generation, low-cost weapon systems. By combining the UK’s Modular Weapons Testbed with Australia’s SHARKTOOTH programme, which emphasizes innovative "plug-and-launch" modular technology, the collaboration seeks to advance the development of affordable and effective guided weapon sub-systems. These technologies will include low-cost seekers (sensors for detecting and tracking targets), additively manufactured engines using 3D printing, modular warheads, fuses, and advanced algorithms to enhance guidance, navigation, and control.
The partnership is designed to offer multiple benefits, including reduced development costs and risks through shared expertise, quicker deployment of new capabilities, and enhanced interoperability between UK and Australian forces. Moreover, it aims to stimulate innovation by pooling ideas from both nations, investing in sovereign defence ecosystems, and fostering flexible, modular designs to rapidly adapt to evolving threats. The collaboration will not only strengthen defence primes, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and academic institutions in both countries but also support key defense initiatives such as the UK Ministry of Defence’s Complex Weapons Pipeline and Australia’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise, ensuring a robust, future-ready defense capability.
