AUSTRALIAN+NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE DIRECTORY 2026 www.defence.directory 27 These AIM-120D-3 and AIM-120C-8 missiles can precisely strike targets at extended range, providing a significant deterrence to potential adversaries. Enhancing the ADF’s strike capability is a key priority of the 2024 National Defence Strategy. The AIM-120D-3 variant is a supersonic air-launched tactical missile, used on the F/A18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft as well as the F-35A Lightning II aircraft. It is designed to counter threats at extended ranges. The AIM-120C-8 variant is launched using the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS), and is being brought into service by the Army’s new 10th Brigade and will significantly boost ground-to-air capability against aerial targets. The Government’s investment in uncrewed and autonomous systems is one of the key priorities outlined in the 2024 National Defence Strategy. The Government is investing over $10 billion in drone capabilities including at least $4.3 billion in uncrewed aerial systems. Developed in cooperation with Boeing Defence Australia, the MQ-28A Ghost Bat is Australia’s first exploration into collaborative combat aircraft technology. Collaborative combat aircraft are uncrewed air vehicles that have the ability to team with crewed platforms performing mission roles and responsibilities typically associated with fighter aircraft. This is an important step forward in the development of this world-leading, Australian designed and made autonomous aircraft. The Ghost Bat has the potential to turn a single fighter jet into a fighting team, with advanced sensors that are like hundreds of eyes in the sky. Australia’s acquisition of a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability will be the most complex and consequential industrial transformation to Australian defence industry in our nation’s history. Australia’s AUKUS Submarine Industry Strategy outlines the ambitious plan to uplift Australia’s military and industrial capability, under the timeframes of the Optimal Pathway announced in March 2023. The industry strategy identifies the conditions to develop the sovereign industrial capability needed to deliver, operate and sustain our future AUKUS submarines, while also ensuring our existing Collins class submarines are sustained and upgraded until their eventual withdrawal from service. This uplift of submarine industrial capability is a critical part of the Government’s commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding and will transform Australia’s two principal shipyards at Osborne in South Australia and Henderson in Western Australia, creating thousands of jobs for generations to come and unprecedented commercial opportunities. Industry can move fast if unnecessary roadblocks are removed. The Government has heard your feedback. The last thing we wish to do is waste time of businesses, big and small. We have already provided millions of dollars in financial support to dozens of businesses under the new Defence Industry Development Grant Program. Offering more than $170 million over four years, this new program is easier for business to navigate whilst supporting Australian SMEs to innovate faster. Through these grants we are delivering priority defence capabilities, supporting local manufacturing and strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence industry. Reform is underway on procurement, including improving Defence’s application of the Australian Standard for Defence Contracting framework – known as ASDEFCON. The progressive reforms to the ASDEFCON suite will make it easier, faster and more cost effective for industry to work with Defence. We have established more strategic partnerships with industry, including to combine related acquisition and sustainment activities where it makes sense. Project LAND156 – the ADF’s initiative to acquire a counter-drone capability and technologies – is both a benchmark and a blueprint for how we will deliver speed to capability in the future. Just four months after the announcement of Project LAND 156, the Government issued an initial rolling wave of contracts worth $16.9 million to 11 vendors, including five Australian companies. This is a start. There is more to do. But our record from our first term should be seen as a clear demonstration of how serious we are about delivering capability at speed, but also providing industry with certainty and support it needs to grow and prosper. THE HON. PAT CONROY, MP Minister For Defence Industry & Capability Delivery Minister for International Development & the Pacific CONROY, MP ence Industry & Capability national Development & th MINISTERIAL FOREWORD
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