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After test-firing missiles off the back of utes, a Queensland company plans to establish a sovereign Australian manufacturing capability for a vital rocket fuel ingredient.
Brisbane-based Black Sky Aerospace has announced the successful completion of a project to locally produce ammonium perchlorate (AP), a chemical that makes up about 70 per cent of most rocket fuel.
The chemical could help Australia become self-sufficient as it moves to produce sovereign rockets and missiles.
"The next step is to scale up production, creating the industrial base to meet our own needs, and supply the Australian and export markets," Black Sky CEO Blake Nikolic said.
Last week, Defence Minister Richard Marles announced $2.5 billion for local production of missiles to make Australia less vulnerable to supply shocks.
Options on increasing guided weapons and explosive ordnance stocks, including the "rapid establishment of domestic manufacturing" are due with the government in 2024, according to the Defence Strategic Review.
"Previously we had to import AP, meaning we would always be vulnerable to supply chain disruption when we needed solid fuel for rockets and missiles the most," Mr Nikolic said.
"With the ability to produce ammonium perchlorate locally, Black Sky Aerospace can supply the key pre-cursor oxidiser chemical of rocket fuel for missiles."
Black Sky last year launched a prototype ultra-mobile artillery rocket from a standard utility, backed by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre.
"Now that we have produced ammonium perchlorate, we have access to all the know-how and materials we need to make solid rocket motors for defence and space use here in Australia," Mr Nikolic said.
