NIOA

{{Infobox company

| name = NIOA

| logo = NIOA logo.png

| logo_size = 195

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| industry = Firearms, Defence, Law Enforcement, Sporting and Outdoors

| founded = 1973

| founder = Bill Nioa

| hq_location =

| hq_location_city = Brisbane, Queensland

| hq_location_country = Australia

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| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|Robert Nioa (CEO)|Ben James (NIOA ANZ CEO)}}

| products = Firearms, ammunition, optics and accessories

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| owner = Robert Nioa

| subsid = {{Unbulleted list|NIOA Australia & New Zealand|Australian Missile Corporation|Barrett Firearms Manufacturing|Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions Joint Venture (RNM)|}}

| website = {{URL|https://www.nioa.com.au/|nioa.com.au}}

}}

NIOA is an Australian armament and munitions company, headquartered in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Owned by the Nioa family, it is a privately held company which is a supplier of arms and ammunition to the sporting, law enforcement and military markets.{{cite news|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/special-reports/queensland-australias-frontline-for-defence-industries/news-story/9edfe70b2f73e45583cbb1dd2a4da5cb|url-access=subscription|title=Queensland: Australia's frontline for defence industries | The Australian|access-date=15 November 2021|agency=The Australian|date=30 October 2021}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportingshooter.com.au/latest/nioa-is-now-australias-largest-australian-owned-supplier-of-weapons-to-the-adf|title=NIOA is Now Australias Largest Australian Owned Supplier of Weapons to the ADF - Sporting Shooter|date=10 August 2020|access-date=19 November 2021|website=www.sportingshooter.com.au}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/from-a-gladstone-servo-to-australias-largest-private-military-police-arms-supplier-20170718-gxdfqw.html|title=From a Gladstone servo to Australia's largest private military, police arms supplier|first=Toby|last=Crockford|date=21 July 2017|access-date=19 November 2021|website=Brisbane Times}} Its founder and CEO, Robert Nioa, is the son-in-law of Australian federal politician Bob Katter.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/15/peter-dutton-considering-request-for-gun-importers-to-review-rule-changes|title=Peter Dutton in talks to create gun lobby 'council' to change firearms laws|access-date=19 November 2021|agency=The Guardian|date=15 March 2018}}

History

NIOA was involved with importing Adler shotguns into Australia during the 2010s.{{cite news |date=13 April 2016 |title=Gunsmiths working around Adler ban |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/gunsmiths-working-around-adler-ban/5fa66410-da25-4a67-b14b-123804a82c2b |access-date=17 November 2021 |agency=Nine News}}{{cite news |date=14 Jul 2015 |title=Rapid-fire Adler shotgun on its way to Australia threatens safety, Gun Control Australia says |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-14/rapid-fire-shotgun-import-concerns-gun-control-activists/6619226 |access-date=7 June 2022 |agency=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}

On 28 July 2016, NIOA was awarded a contract to supply 40 mm automatic grenade launchers to the Australian Army.{{Cite web|url=http://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/nioa-wins-40mm-grenade-launcher-contracts|title=NIOA wins 40mm grenade launcher contracts|date=28 July 2015|access-date=19 November 2021|website=www.australiandefence.com.au}}

On 15 November 2017, NIOA was selected by the New Zealand Defence Force to supply weapons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/key-enablers/1530-australian-sme-to-deliver-weapon-systems-to-nzdf/|title=Australian SME to deliver weapon systems to NZDF - Defence Connect|website=www.defenceconnect.com.au|date=14 November 2017|access-date=19 November 2021}} On 5 December 2017, NIOA signed a contract with the Australian Department of Defence to supply the Australian Defence Force with multiple types of ammunition.{{Cite web|url=https://www.army-technology.com/news/nioa-supply-30-different-munitions-australian-military/|title=NIOA to supply 30 different munitions to Australian military - Army Technology|website=www.army-technology.com|date=5 December 2017|access-date=19 November 2021}}

On 23 January 2018, NIOA was awarded a contract by the Australian Army to supply 155 mm artillery ammunitions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/land-amphibious/1805-army-artillery-enhanced-under-100m-project/|title=Army artillery enhanced under $100m project - Defence Connect|website=www.defenceconnect.com.au|date=23 January 2018|access-date=19 November 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://adbr.com.au/nioa-awarded-land17-1c2-artillery-ammunition-contract/|title=NIOA awarded LAND17-1C2 artillery ammunition contract - ABDR|website=adbr.com.au|date=25 January 2018|access-date=19 November 2021}}

On 1 November 2019, former Australian politician David Feeney was appointed to the advisory board of NIOA.{{cite web|title=NIOA APPOINTS HON DAVID FEENEY - NIOA|url=https://defence.nioa.com.au/latest-news/nioa-appoints-hon-david-feeney|date=1 November 2019|access-date=17 November 2021}}

On 29 June 2020, NIOA agreed to enter into a joint tenancy, alongside Thales Australia, of the government-owned munitions factory in Benalla.{{Cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/update-thales-nioa-secure-10-year-munitions-deals-in-australia|title=Update: Thales, NIOA secure 10-year munitions deals in Australia|website=www.janes.com|date=29 June 2020|access-date=13 June 2022}} On 9 December 2020, NIOA entered into an agreement with Olin Corporation to supply the Australian Defence Force with small arms ammunition.{{Cite web|url=https://www.australiandefence.com.au/defence/land/nioa-and-winchester-to-supply-adf|url-access=subscription|title=NIOA and Winchester to supply ADF - Australian Defence Magazine|date=8 December 2020|access-date=19 November 2021|website=www.australiandefence.com.au}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/land-amphibious/7346-nioa-signs-supply-contract-with-winchester|title=The locally based prime contractor has partnered with Olin Winchester in a bid to assure munitions supply for the ADF. - Defence Connect|website=www.defenceconnect.com.au|date=8 December 2020|access-date=19 November 2021}}

On 3 June 2021, NIOA partnered with Black Sky Aerospace and Quickstep in their bid under the Australian Missile Corporation for the Australian Government's sovereign guided missiles project.{{Cite web|url=https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/key-enablers/8158-nioa-partners-with-quickstep-black-sky-for-sovereign-guided-weapons-push|title=NIOA partners with Quickstep, Black Sky for sovereign guided weapons push|date=2 June 2021|access-date=19 November 2021|website=www.defenceconnect.com.au}}

On 17 January 2023, NIOA acquired full ownership of Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, an American rifle manufacturer.{{cite news|url=https://asiapacificdefencereporter.com/nioa-acquires-us-manufacturer-barrett-firearms/|title=NIOA acquires US manufacturer Barrett Firearms

|access-date=17 January 2023|agency=Asia Pacific Defence Reporter|date=17 January 2023}}