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The Australian government has launched a new decade-long strategy aimed at accelerating the development and adoption of advanced military technologies, strengthening sovereign industrial capability and ensuring the Australian Defence Force can adapt faster.
The Albanese government has released the 2026 Defence Innovation, Science and Technology (IS&T) Strategy, a 10-year blueprint designed to bring together Defence, industry, universities and research institutions to deliver the technologies expected to shape the future of warfare.
The strategy identifies six priority capability areas that will guide investment and collaboration over the coming decade: long-range fires and hypersonic weapons, high-energy lasers, autonomous systems, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and undersea warfare.
Defence said these areas will be central to developing the next generation of military capabilities, including autonomous platforms such as the MQ-28A Ghost Bat uncrewed aircraft system and Ghost Shark autonomous undersea vehicle while also advancing technologies designed to operate in contested environments.
The strategy comes as Defence seeks to incorporate lessons from conflicts including the war in Ukraine and ongoing operations in the Middle East, where drones, electronic warfare, artificial intelligence and rapidly evolving battlefield technologies have transformed the character of modern conflict.
Among the priorities is the development of quantum technologies to support secure navigation and timing in GPS-denied environments, advanced counter-drone systems to protect Australian personnel and infrastructure, and faster pathways to transition emerging technologies from research laboratories into operational service.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles said technological change was reshaping warfare at an unprecedented pace, making innovation a critical component of Australia’s future strategic advantage.
“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,” Minister Marles said.
“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.”
The strategy is being launched alongside the 2026 ADSTAR Summit in Adelaide, bringing together representatives from government, defence industry, academia and international partners to discuss how Australia can accelerate innovation and strengthen its defence ecosystem.
Chief of the Defence Force Admiral Mark Hammond said the strategy would provide a pathway for delivering new technologies to Australian warfighters more rapidly through stronger partnerships and a greater focus on experimentation.
“The new Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy offers a blueprint for providing the capability our warfighters need,” ADML Hammond said.
“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 said the strategy would provide clearer direction for Australia’s innovation community by aligning research and investment with Defence’s most pressing capability challenges.
“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,” Monro said.
“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.”
Beyond individual technologies, the strategy represents a broader shift in how Defence approaches capability development. Rather than relying solely on traditional acquisition cycles, the IS&T Strategy places greater emphasis on rapid experimentation, collaboration and the ability to scale promising Australian innovations.
Defence will also continue expanding science and technology cooperation with trusted international partners, recognising that maintaining a technological edge increasingly depends on collaboration across allied research and industrial networks.
As Australia undertakes the largest transformation of its defence force in generations, the government said the new strategy will be central to building a more adaptive, innovative and sovereign defence industrial base capable of supporting the Australian Defence Force into the future.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
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