Australian-made rocket motor test fired for the first time

Newly released footage shows the first test-firing of an Australian-made solid rocket motor.

The rocket motor, which has been in development for more than four years, is seen as a step towards developing a greater Australian-made missile industry.

The federal government has been investing in developing Australian-made missiles, with the Iran war highlighting the pressure on global missile supply chains.

An Australian-made solid rocket motor, carrying more than 300 kilograms of propellant, has been test-fired for the first time in the remote South Australian desert.

The DRACO rocket motor is the largest and most advanced rocket motor designed and built in Australia.

The rocket motor was fired at Defence's Woomera test range in February, but footage of the test-firing has only been released now.

The DRACO solid rocket motor is tested at Defence's Woomera test range. (Supplied: Defence Science and Technology Group)

It is roughly a metre and a half long, weighs almost half a tonne before it is fired, and has been in development for four years.

Its successful testing is being described as a significant leap forward in Australia's push to develop and manufacture its own missiles.

This test puts Australia closer to manufacturing its own missiles. (Supplied: Defence Science and Technology Group)

The development of locally made missiles has become a Defence priority in recent years as it works to reduce Australia's reliance on overseas imports.

But missiles currently produced in Australia are largely assembled using overseas-built components, and there is a push to start making more components onshore.

Solid rocket motors are essentially the rockets that lift spacecraft off the Earth, or fly missiles thousands of kilometres.

The ADF has been investing heavily in developing a sovereign missile production capability. (Supplied: Defence Science and Technology Group)

A Defence spokesperson said this test-firing puts Australia closer to manufacturing.

"The successful static firing test marks the largest militarily relevant solid rocket motor ever designed and manufactured in Australia, delivering a significant step forward in building the nation's capacity to produce advanced weapon technologies domestically," they said.

"Data from the test will inform the development of larger-scale propulsion systems, supporting the next phase of Australia's sovereign capability in long-range and high-speed strike weapons."

The DRACO rocket was produced by Defence's Science and Technology Group, which aims to work with industry to develop new military technology.

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