Australia updates national defence strategy

DEFENCE STATEMENT Today, the Albanese Government has released the 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program. Together, these documents set out the Government’s plan to respond to our strategic circumstances and keep Australians safe. In delivering the 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program, the Albanese Government continues its structured approach of identifying the capabilities we need and funding them appropriately. In recognition of our dangerous and unpredictable strategic circumstances, the 2026 Integrated Investment Program includes an additional $14 billion over the next four years, and an additional $53 billion over the decade, through Defence funding, estate modernisation and alternative financing where appropriate. As a result, Defence spending as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will rise to 3 per cent by 2033 under the NATO approach. The Albanese Government’s record increase in Defence investment coincides with major reforms, including the establishment of the Defence Delivery Agency and the Government’s response to the Estate Audit, to ensure every dollar of investment is focused on value for money and greater speed to capability. Not only are these investments acquiring and sustaining the capabilities needed to keep Australians safe, they are also supporting tens of thousands of highly skilled, well-paid Australian jobs directly and across supply chains. 2026 National Defence Strategy The inaugural National Defence Strategy delivered in 2024 identified that Australia’s strategic environment was deteriorating and that our nation faced the most challenging circumstances since the Second World War. It set out, for the first time, the concept of National Defence and adopted the Strategy of Denial as the cornerstone of Defence planning. The 2026 National Defence Strategy builds on these foundations by: increasing efforts to develop greater self-reliance; prioritising capability acquisition and sustainment plans, drawing on lessons learned from the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East; strengthening the resilience of Australia’s sovereign defence industrial base and building stronger, more diverse international industrial partnerships; improving national civil preparedness and resilience to help Australia manage and recover from regional or global disruption; and increasing coordination with regional partners to strengthen and preserve the global rules based order. The 2026 National Defence Strategy puts Australia on a path to strengthen our self reliance; it reinforces the industrial foundations needed for National Defence; and it situates Australia firmly within a network of trusted regional partnerships. Above all, it ensures Australia remains secure, sovereign and ready — not just for today’s challenges, but into the future. 2026 Integrated Investment Program The Albanese Government has allocated $425 billion over the decade to deliver accelerated capability for the integrated, focused force – to increase the ADF’s self-reliance and contribute to regional deterrence. The 2026 Integrated Investment Program prioritises investment to: deliver an enhanced undersea warfare capability, supported by a sovereign fleet of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines; accelerate the delivery of more lethal maritime capabilities; further expand long-range strike capabilities across the integrated, focused force; accelerate the introduction of integrated air and missile defence capabilities; expand the adoption of autonomous and uncrewed systems across the land, air and maritime domains; field counter-uncrewed air systems to protect Australian sites, events and critical infrastructure; and deliver a resilient and secure multi-orbit satellite communications system. These investments, including the additional $53 billion in new funding over the decade, will also strengthen the resilience of our sovereign defence industrial base, create and sustain Australian jobs, and build stronger, more diverse international industrial partnerships and supply chains. The 2026 Integrated Investment Program also includes targeted investments to increase preparedness and resilience to ensure the ADF is postured and prepared today to respond to unforeseen events tomorrow. Throughout all of this, the Albanese Government continues to invest in Defence’s most important capability — its people. Recruitment, retention, training and skilling are central to delivering on the concept of National Defence. The 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program continue the important work of growing and retaining our Defence Force. As a Defence enterprise, there is no more important or consequential task than defending Australia and protecting the security, interests and livelihoods of every Australian. The work the ADF and their enabling APS colleagues perform directly supports this mission and we thank them, and their families for their continued commitment and service. Copies of the 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program are available online at https://www.defence.gov.au/nds. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]