Projects | Port Wakefield Missile Assembly Building, South Australia

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The Port Wakefield Missile Assembly Building is Australia’s first guided weapons assembly facility – only the second of its kind in the world outside the United States (US). Located in South Australia, the facility marks the beginning of Australia’s sovereign guided weapons production capability. It was established to support a manufacturing Risk Reduction Activity ahead of the planned establishment of a larger scale facility.

The Department of Defence partnered with Lockheed Martin Australia, Defence’s production agent for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System. Production activities needed to start in 2025, with planning works commencing in September 2024.

Aurecon was engaged in September 2024 to prepare the initial design and tender documents, support the procurement of a construction contractor and deliver the facility by late October 2025.

The Port Wakefield Missile Assembly Building is the fastest medium-sized project in Defence history.

The key challenge was a significantly compressed delivery timeframe. The facility needed to move from evolving functional requirements to a safe, compliant and operational manufacturing environment in less than a year. The project was also required to comply with strict Australian and US Government requirements around quality control, procurement and explosive ordnance licensing and manufacturing compliance.

From parliamentary approval in February 2025, contract execution in April 2025 and construction completion in October 2025, the Port Wakefield Missile Assembly Building is the fastest medium-sized project in Defence history.

Location

Port Wakefield
South Australia, Australia

Client

Department of Defence – Capital Facilities & Infrastructure Branch

Partners

Intract, Lockheed Martin Australia

Aurecon's Role

Aurecon delivered a fast-tracked 30% design, followed by design and construction procurement.

Expertise

Defence & National Security, Building Design, Environment & Planning

Complete

2025

Accelerating design despite restricted site access

Starting from the development of the initial reference design, Aurecon translated high level functional requirements to engineering requirements with limited site access. Given Port Wakefield is a Defence ‘Proof and Experimental Establishment’, there was restricted access to the site due to live weapons testing activities.

Aurecon undertook environmental, civil, geotechnical and unexploded ordnance investigations within a short access window that required planning from both Defence’s Guided Weapons Explosive Ordnance Group and Base stakeholders. Aurecon also utilised drone technology for topography surveys of the site due to limited ability to inspect the site.

The Port Wakefield Missile Assembly facility was delivered rapidly to support Australian guided weapons production. Image courtesy of Department of Defence, © Commonwealth of Australia.

A collaborative pathway to fast-tracked construction

Defence selected this project to progress through the Indigenous procurement pathway. Aurecon managed the initial market approach and assisted in the shortlisting of three Indigenous construction companies. The successful tenderer was Intract.

Aurecon applied an ambitious overlapping design and construction approach. Rather than waiting for the entire design to be completed, the team progressed packages in sequence so construction could begin while later design activities continued.

Aurecon's ambitious overlapping design and construction approach delivered the facility in less than a year.

The early works design progressed using a ‘just-in-time’ method, as early works design was completed in late May 2025, with concurrent vegetation clearing and general site preparation. The main works design was completed simultaneously with the early works construction. The design was completed in late June 2025, with building construction commencing in July 2025.

Maintaining quality in an unprecedented facility

As an Explosive Ordnance (EO) manufacturing facility and the first of its kind in Australia, the project is leading by example. The facility meets strict compliance requirements to obtain EO licensing and meet US manufacturing standards.

Cohesion with multiple sets of technical requirements was critical, including Australian Building Code, Australian Defence Requirements, Australian and US EO licensing requirements and Lockheed Martin Australia and Lockheed Martin Corporation organisational requirements.

Aurecon managed this with frequent communication with Defence’s Guided Weapons Explosive Ordnance Group and the EO Licensing Authority throughout the design phase to understand key licensing sensitivities. Significant effort was required to document specific stages of construction to provide evidence to the EO Licensing Authority. All documents were collated and provided as an evidence pack to Defence and Lockheed Martin Australia to confirm compliance.

Reusing excavated soil to reduce offsite disposal

The project team turned a construction challenge into a sustainable opportunity by identifying an onsite reuse solution for approximately 4,000 m³ of soil excavated for the new assembly. Rather than transporting the material off base from the remote site, the team identified its potential to rehabilitate a disused borrow pit.

Aurecon identified and pursued practical innovations that delivered environmental and project benefits.

Working with Defence Base authorities and the Defence Environment and Sustainability Manager, the project team confirmed the soil’s chemical suitability for this purpose and agreed that the approach met Defence’s reuse requirements, including its definition of beneficial reuse.

By challenging conventional disposal practices, Aurecon identified and pursued practical innovations that delivered environmental and project benefits. By treating excavated soil as a resource rather than waste, the approach reduced disposal time and costs, diverted material from landfill and rehabilitated the inactive quarry for potential future base use. This shows how collaboration and technical assessment can translate a commitment to sustainability into tangible benefits for Defence.

Turning one facility into lessons for a sovereign manufacturing future

Future implementation was the key driver for this project. The primary purpose of the facility was to enable initial Australian guided weapon manufacturing. The lessons learned will inform the requirements for future guided weapons manufacturing facilities in Australia.

Aurecon ran three lessons-learned sessions throughout the delivery of the project: at the completion of design, construction and three months into occupancy. At each stage, the project team documented key learnings and produced lessons learned reports.

The lessons from these workshops have been documented and provided to Defence for implementation into future guided weapons manufacturing facilities and will be incorporated in the development of the proposed Australian Weapons Manufacturing Complex.

Precision Strike Missile equipment at Port Wakefield. Image courtesy of Department of Defence, © Commonwealth of Australia.

High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launcher with Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System equipment supported by the new missile assembly capability at Port Wakefield. Image courtesy of Department of Defence, © Commonwealth of Australia.

Port Wakefield Missile Assembly Building opening ceremony. Image courtesy of Defence SA.

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Precision Strike Missile equipment at Port Wakefield. Image courtesy of Department of Defence, © Commonwealth of Australia.

Completed in October 2025 and opened in December 2025, the Port Wakefield Missile Assembly Building provides both an initial sovereign production capability and proven framework for future guided weapons facilities in the Australian regulatory environment.

The project demonstrates how Aurecon’s experience in bringing together integrated design, engineering, project management, procurement and assurance can support accelerated delivery when schedule, safety and quality are all critical.