New Ammunition Acquisition

Australia has finalized a contract to supply its F-35A jets with 25mm PGU-47/U APEX ammunition from Nammo, a Norwegian-Finnish manufacturer. The deal, valued at approximately AUD $22.9 million ($14.2 million USD), was announced by the Department of Defence, confirming Nammo’s recent order disclosure. This purchase comes shortly after Australia received the last batch of nine F-35A jets in December 2024, completing its fleet of 72 aircraft.

Details and Features of APEX Ammunition

This transaction marks the first significant sale of APEX ammunition. A Nammo spokesperson indicated that while prior sales of the APEX round have occurred and other countries are in the testing phase, specific details regarding those operations remain undisclosed. The APEX ammunition is tailored for the F-35A’s GAU-22/A cannon, with production set to commence this year and deliveries expected to be completed by 2027.

The APEX rounds provide several operational advantages, including effectiveness against diverse targets, enhanced warhead performance, and improved accuracy. The ammunition combines armor-piercing and explosive capabilities, featuring a tungsten carbide penetrator and a warhead designed for delayed initiation, enabling blast, fragmentation, and incendiary effects upon impact.

Extensive Research and Development

Nammo, alongside key partners including the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency and the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, has invested nearly two decades in research, development, testing, and qualification to achieve flight readiness for the APEX rounds on the F-35A.

Role of the F-35A and Future Procurement Plans

Although the F-35 jets are equipped for gun-to-gun and close-in combat, such scenarios are generally infrequent, as the aircraft is designed to employ more lethal weaponry and advanced mission systems to counter adversaries effectively. The F-35A can also carry a range of munitions, including Aim-9X Sidewinder and Aim-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, as well as GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) and laser-guided bombs.

The Lockheed Martin F-35 is a critical element of Australia’s combat air power, working alongside Boeing’s F/A-18F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers. In the context of plans to replace the Super Hornet fleet, which may involve up to AUD $3 billion ($1.9 billion USD), the Australian government had intended to acquire additional F-35s. However, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy hinted that the replacement timeline could be delayed, allowing for reinvestment into long-range missile capabilities instead.

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