Australian government unveils 10-year defence strategy

• The Australian Government has launched a 10-year defence innovation strategy.
• The plan outlines six technology priorities to build sovereign industrial capacity.
• The strategy aims to accelerate technology adoption across military operations.

The Australian Government has launched a 10-year strategy targeting six key defence technology priorities.

The policy updates the 2024 framework and aligns with Australia's national defence investment programme.

"Technology is reshaping warfare at a pace we have never seen before," said Australian Government Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.

The strategy targets hypersonic weapons, high-energy lasers, autonomous systems, quantum technology, artificial intelligence, and undersea warfare.

The initiative aims to strengthen sovereign manufacturing while advancing autonomous platforms and counter-drone systems.

The plan was released alongside the 2026 Australian Defence Science Technology and Research Summit in Adelaide.