Australia has launched a 10-year Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy that places long-range fires and hypersonic weapons, high-energy lasers, autonomous systems, quantum technology, artificial intelligence and undersea warfare at the centre of its military technology roadmap. The plan links those priorities to current Australian programmes including the Ghost Bat uncrewed aircraft and the Ghost Shark autonomous undersea vehicle.
The strategy is designed to speed the shift from research to deployable capability as Canberra responds to changes in warfare observed in Ukraine and the Middle East. It also targets Australia’s sovereign industrial base, with counter-drone technologies among the areas expected to benefit. Quantum technology features in the document as a route to secure navigation and timing in GPS-denied environments, underlining the emphasis on resilience in contested operations.
The announcement positions innovation as a core part of Australia’s future force structure rather than a separate research track. By tying the strategy to platforms already under development, the government is seeking to align industrial policy with operational requirements across air, maritime and autonomous systems.