It was officially opened by Nationals Deputy Leader Senator Bridget McKenzie and Federal Member for Calare Andrew Gee.

The arms factory, owned by international defence tech company Thales, has been buoyed by the release of the Federal Government’s Defence Industrial Capability Plan on April 23, which specifically included small arms design and production as a priority. 

“We had 180 workers that went home very happy after that announcement,” Lithgow Arms Vice President Land Australia and New Zealand Kevin Wall told the Senator at the launch. 

Director of integrated weapons and sensors in Thales Australia’s armaments business Graham Evenden said the innovation hub would exist separate to the design team of Lithgow Arms, looking at least five years into the future.

“It will be looking way beyond today’s products, focusing on technologies rather than products,” he said.  

The shed, built on the factory grounds, is an open, separate space featuring tools including virtual reality simulator and a 3D printer, which allow designers to test and experiment with new technologies. 

Senator McKenzie, who tried out some of the virtual reality technology in the innovation shed, said it was a pleasure to open the facility, which would see Lithgow’s heritage, knowledge and skill set in arms manufacture taken to a whole new generation. 

“As a government we are investing in over 200 billion over the next 10 years to grow our defence industry capabilities and it is fantastic to see that it is not just happening in Western Australia, it’s not just happening in our capital cities, but right throughout regional Australia,” she said. 

Calare MP Andrew Gee said it was remarkable to consider that weapons being carried by troops serving in the Middle East were made and serviced “right here”. 

“It makes a huge economic impact on our local economies here at this plant, it's expanding and the fact that Thales is looking to develop new products through its innovation hub which we’ve opened today I think just shows you that the future is bright for defence contracting and that this is a great vote of confidence in the abilities of folks out here in country NSW. 

Lithgow Arms employs more than 150 people and has increased its workforce 35 per cent over the last three years. 

This year, the company has eight trainees in its technicians program, with plans to increase that number to 15. 

Lithgow Arms has been based in Lithgow since 1912 and now produces firearms for the civil and military market. 

The company is well into its five-year contract to supply F90 rifles to the Australian Defence Force. 

The company looks forward to a bright future in the civil market, as well, with an increase in sales of rifles into the Australian market. 

“That has been achieved by taking market share from rifles that have been imported from overseas, which is very satisfying,” Thales’ Graham Evenden said.