As he prepares to conclude nearly four decades of service, Air Marshal Leon Phillips leaves behind a legacy that has transformed Australia’s guided weapons and explosive ordnance capability from a strategic vision into an enduring national enterprise.
Appointed as the inaugural Chief of Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Group, Air Marshal Phillips had been tasked with leading the acceleration of Australia’s GWEO Enterprise – a key recommendation of the 2023 Defence Strategic Review.
This involved bringing together Defence, industry and international partners to establish a resilient and secure GWEO industrial base able to support Australia’s future needs and deliver capabilities that enhance Australia’s readiness and preparedness.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we have managed to achieve as a group over the past three years,” Air Marshal Phillips said.
“We’ve focused on deepening our war stocks, enhancing our lethality and reach – particularly long-range strike – and importantly, building domestic manufacturing capability.”
Under his leadership, Defence has achieved a series of significant milestones in the establishment of a sovereign guided weapons enterprise, as well as developing and delivering GWEO capabilities for the ADF in the defence of Australia and its national interests.
In December 2025, the first facility outside of the United States to produce Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles was opened in Port Wakefield, South Australia, in partnership with Lockheed Martin. Less than six months later, in April 2026, the first batch of Australian-made GMLRS missiles were successfully test-fired at the Woomera Test Range.
Air Marshal Phillips drove efforts to produce and maintain NSM and JSM in Australia for the ADF and partner nations from 2027, through a new missile factory, the first outside Norway with Kongsberg Australia in Newcastle, New South Wales. This will boost long-range strike capability for the Navy and Air Force.
‘I’m incredibly proud of what we have managed to achieve as a group over the past three years.’
A new forging capability announced for 155mm M795 artillery projectiles in Maryborough, Queensland, will be operational by the end of 2028, and a rocket motor manufacturing capability will be established at Defence’s site at Mulwala, New South Wales, by 2030.
Air Marshal Phillips adopted a crawl, walk, run approach to tackling the highly complex endeavour of domestic missile manufacturing.
“I think we’ve been true to our vision,” he said.
“It’s one thing to produce documentation and have a vision. It’s much harder to realise those plans.
“I’ve been very honoured to have the opportunity to lead this initiative and a wonderful group of people, not only in GWEO Group, but working across the department, with government and industry especially, to achieve this important program that is delivering and getting runs on the board.”
Joining the Royal Australian Air Force through the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1987, Air Marshal Phillips’ career has spanned roles in engineering, capability acquisition and sustainment, and weapon systems digital integration.
Air Marshal Phillips leaves an enduring legacy of service and achievement, and through his remarkable leadership has laid the foundations for a sovereign guided weapons enterprise that will support Defence and the nation for decades to come.
His tenure concludes on September 4.
