John Fry
Managing Director at Kongsberg Defence Australia
John Fry is Managing Director of Kongsberg Defence Australia, based in Canberra, where he oversees the local manufacture and integration of key defence capabilities including NASAMS Ground Based Air Defence, Protected Mobile Fires and the Naval Strike Missile. He has led Kongsberg's Australian operations since joining in 2019, and under his leadership Kongsberg was selected as a Strategic Partner in the Commonwealth's Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise, securing an $850 million investment in domestic missile manufacturing. Before Kongsberg he held senior business development roles at Raytheon Australia, Fujitsu Australia and Booz Allen Hamilton, following a 13-year military career as an officer in the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery. He discussed building Australia's first missile factory in the Hunter on the Engineering in the Hunter podcast.
In their own words
From John Fry: building Australia's first missile factory in the Hunter · Engineering in the HunterIf you'd told me five years ago we'd be building missiles in Australia, I probably wouldn't have believed you.
Career
- Now Managing Director · Kongsberg Defence Australia
- Earlier Officer, Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery · Australian Defence Force
- Earlier Director, Business Development · Raytheon Australia
- Earlier Business Development · Fujitsu
- Earlier Business Development · Booz Allen Hamilton
Sources: hunterif.com.au
Key moments
Jump straight to the part of John Fry: building Australia's first missile factory in the Hunter you want.
- 0:00 A company since 1814 the cold open
- 1:58 From Army air-defence officer to missile-maker: John's path
- 6:05 Kongsberg since 1814
- 7:11 Why Australia the NASAMS win
- 8:47 Standing up in-country through COVID
- 10:55 Running a P L from day one
- 12:25 What we're building: the Naval Strike Missile and Joint Strike Missile
- 15:31 The $850 million sovereign-manufacturing commitment
- 18:20 The JSM a strike missile that fits inside the F-35
- 20:20 Why the Hunter: 40 sites, Orchard Hills, port, airbase and liveability
Heard on
Kongsberg Defence Australia on Day One
Kongsberg Defence Australia is the Australian arm of Norway's KONGSBERG Defence & Aerospace, with offices in Canberra, Adelaide, Newcastle, Sydney and Perth. 1 person · 1 episode → Connections
Spot something wrong? Suggest a correction Updated 25 September 2026
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