PODCAST: Defence industrial investment, Ghost Bat upgrades and Indonesia’s Gaza deployment

Joint-capabilities
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By: Robyn Tongol

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Stephen Kuper is joined by Robert Dougherty and Bethany Alvaro to unpack major developments in defence innovation, autonomous air combat and shifting alliance dynamics.

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Stephen Kuper is joined by Robert Dougherty and Bethany Alvaro to unpack major developments in defence innovation, autonomous air combat and shifting alliance dynamics.

The discussion begins with the federal government’s proposed $500 million co-investment fund aimed at accelerating defence technologies, including artificial intelligence, cyber security, autonomous systems, electronic warfare and quantum capabilities.

Attention then turns to the US Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, where Shield AI will integrate its Hivemind autonomy software into Anduril Industries’ Fury aircraft.

 
 

Regionally, the team assesses Indonesia’s plan to contribute troops to a Gaza stabilisation force under diplomatic efforts led by President Donald Trump, and what it could mean for Australia’s own policy settings.

They also discuss confirmation that Papua New Guinea military personnel will receive Australian Combat Assault Rifles made by Thales Australia.

The episode concludes with analysis of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Munich Security Conference speech on allied burden-sharing, before finishing on a lighter note with new military working dog facilities at RAAF Base Tindal.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

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Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: CONTESTED GROUND: Australia and the West must ask themselves new questions in the face of the modern world, with Robbin Laird
Episode 10: PODCAST: Black Hawk capability, B-21 bomber debate, and upcoming budget
Episode 9: PODCAST: Supermarine Spitfire, warbird aviation and modern aerial innovation, with Keith Russell
Episode 8: PODCAST: Bushmaster PMV funding, long-range strike expansion and cyber defence
Episode 7: PODCAST: Space Command workforce expansion and operationalising the domain, with Major General Gregory Novak AM
Episode 6: CONTESTED GROUND: The Defence budget, inflationary pressures and domestic information warfare
Episode 5: SPOTLIGHT: Maritime sustainment, mission-ready maintenance and resilient fleet capability, with Serco’s David Astbury
Episode 4: PODCAST: Anzac Day reflections, veteran support reform and ADF workforce trends, with Minister Matt Keogh
Episode 3: SPOTLIGHT: Open-source growth across defence and national security, with SUSE CMO Margaret Dawson
Episode 2: CONTESTED GROUND: Shipping, supply chains and Australia’s exposure to a volatile system, with UNSW’s Professor Douglas Guilfoyle and Associate Professor Daniel Prior