The Australian government has launched the 2026 Defence Innovation, Science and Technology (IS&T) Strategy, a 10-year blueprint to accelerate the delivery of innovative solutions and new technologies for Defence and strengthen Australia’s sovereign industrial base. In a rapidly evolving strategic environment, the pace of technological change is accelerating and emerging technologies are reshaping the character of warfare. To maintain Australia’s strategic advantage, Defence must be equipped to innovate, adapt and deliver capability at speed.
The 2026 IS&T Strategy focuses on six key capability priorities:
- long-range fires and hypersonic weapons;
- high-energy lasers;
- autonomous systems;
- quantum technology;
- artificial intelligence; and
- undersea warfare.
These priority areas will be critical to the delivery of capabilities and autonomous platforms for our Defence Force, such as the Ghost Bat uncrewed aircraft and the Ghost Shark autonomous undersea vehicle. They will also support the development of quantum technologies which provide secure navigation and timing in GPS-denied environments, and advanced systems to counter drones and protect Defence personnel and infrastructure – drawing on lessons learned from the war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East.
This is a national endeavour, drawing on and contributing to capabilities across government, industry, research institutions and universities. The 2026 IS&T Strategy strengthens these partnerships to accelerate innovation, build sovereign capability and contribute to the peace and security of our region. Defence also continues to work with trusted international partners to expand collaboration across areas of innovation, science and technology. The 2026 IS&T Strategy is being launched in conjunction with the 2026 ADSTAR Summit which begins in Adelaide.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said: “The Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy sets clear direction for Defence, industry, academics and researchers to work together on the technologies that will define the future of modern warfare. Technology is reshaping warfare at a pace we have never seen before. The lessons from conflicts around the world are clear: nations that can innovate faster and adopt new technologies more effectively will have a decision advantage. The 2024 Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy made strong progress and the 2026 Strategy builds on this and aligns efforts with the 2026 National Defence Strategy and Defence Industry Development Strategy.”
Chief of the Defence Force Admiral Mark Hammond said: “The new Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy offers a blueprint for providing the capability our warfighters need. The Strategy will enable us to transition new technologies to our people sooner through a balanced approach to risk, deeper partnerships with industry, academia and international allies, and a culture of rapid experimentation that allows us to fail fast, learn faster and adapt quickly. Today is an invaluable opportunity for all of us to come together at ADSTAR, to discuss how we can take collective action to accelerate and enhance Australia’s asymmetric advantage to preserve peace, prosperity and security for all Australians.”
Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro: “The Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy clearly outlines Defence innovation, science and technology priorities, helping our partners focus their expertise and investment on the areas that will have the greatest impact on Australia’s national security and defence capability. This represents a significant step towards deeper co-design and co-development with industry and academia, ensuring research programs are shaped from the outset by shared priorities and real capability challenges, while strengthening research security across the innovation ecosystem. This strategy will help align research effort, investment and innovation with Defence’s highest-priority needs and strengthen Australia’s strategic advantage.”
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