PODCAST: Defence export ambitions, drone technology and defence manufacturing hubs

Joint-capabilities
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By: Noemie Veñegas

Questions remain around how Australia can grow sovereign capability while responding to evolving strategic challenges.

Questions remain around how Australia can grow sovereign capability while responding to evolving strategic challenges.

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Stephen Kuper, Robert Dougherty and Bethany Alvaro discuss a busy week across defence and industry, including Australia’s record $2.5 billion defence export deal with Canada and what it means for future international partnerships.

The discussion explores changing geopolitical dynamics, Arctic security and how middle powers are reshaping defence and economic relationships.

 
 

Attention then turns to emerging drone opportunities, including Ukrainian manufacturers expanding into Australia and DroneShield’s push into European counter-drone markets.

The team also examines Western Australia’s ambition to establish new defence manufacturing hubs and discusses Electro Optic Systems’ latest counter-drone export successes and the challenges of building sovereign industrial capability.

Rounding out the episode, the panel looks ahead to LAND Forces 2026 and the technologies expected to shape the future of Army modernisation.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

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Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: PODCAST: Offshore manufacturing, defence procurement and industrial resilience, with Philippe Odouard and David McLaughlin
Episode 10: SPOTLIGHT: Cyber warfare, autonomy and the future of defence, with Palo Alto Networks’ Tom Scully and MAJGEN (Ret’d) John Davis
Episode 9: CONTESTED GROUND: Fortune favours the bold – building a national security strategy for the 21st century, with Marc Ablong
Episode 8: PODCAST: Developing Australia’s ability to take a hit and keep fighting, with the honourable Andrew Hastie MP, shadow minister for industry and sovereign capability
Episode 7: PODCAST: AUKUS expansion, artillery manufacturing and Australia’s regional defence role
Episode 6: SPOTLIGHT: Building mass, capability and trust with autonomous and uncrewed systems, with Michael Mitchell, Elysium EPL director
Episode 5: PODCAST: Defence policy, domestic manufacturing and military culture, with Senator Malcolm Roberts
Episode 4: SPOTLIGHT: LAND 156, counter-drone warfare and electronic warfare capability, with Department 13’s Ben Westgarth
Episode 3: PODCAST: Australia’s first 3D printed autonomous USV, with Josh Wigley and Harry Hubbert
Episode 2: PODCAST: Australia’s shipbuilding future, landing craft pipeline and autonomous vessels, with Austal CEO Paddy Gregg