PODCAST: Building organic Australian capabilities – Keith Johnson, Leidos Australia

Joint-capabilities
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PODCAST: Building organic Australian capabilities – Keith Johnson, Leidos Australia

Prime organisations like Leidos Australia play a crucial role in supporting the growth of Australia’s defence industry capability and are pivotal to the ongoing success of the government’s $270 billion investment in defence capability and sovereign industry.

Prime organisations like Leidos Australia play a crucial role in supporting the growth of Australia’s defence industry capability and are pivotal to the ongoing success of the government’s $270 billion investment in defence capability and sovereign industry.

On this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Keith Johnson, senior vice president, global capabilities, Leidos Australia, to discuss the evolving and growing role of the company in Australia.

Johnson discusses the pivotal role the Leidos Australia team plays in supporting the transfer of knowledge and know-how from the parent company to enhance Leidos’ commitment to supporting the development of a sovereign Australian industry capability, supported by “organic Australian industry capability”.

They also discuss the flexibility and advantages Leidos enjoys through being “platform agnostic”, meaning they can work collaboratively with a range of OEM’s to provide the Australian warfighter with the best capability for the mission set.

Johnson and Tarrant also discuss the growing size of the Australian business, the evolving capability offering the company is seeking to provide Australia, with eyes firmly set on growing the company locally.

Enjoy the podcast,

The Defence Connect team

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Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: PODCAST: Black Hawk modernisation, domestic sustainment and workforce development, with Lockheed Martin’s Rodahn Gibbon and Bobby Adkins
Episode 10: SPOTLIGHT: DISP compliance, defence industry security and strengthening Australian supply chains, with De Stefano & Co’s Emilio De Stefano
Episode 9: PODCAST: AUKUS, workforce challenges and domestic defence industry priorities, with AtkinsRéalis’ David Eyles
Episode 8: PODCAST: Aerospace engineering, UAVs and Australia’s next generation of defence talent, with RMIT University’s Marcus Serong
Episode 7: PODCAST: Counter-drone systems, manufacturing and Australia’s defence industry priorities, with Northrop Grumman Australia’s Robert Denney
Episode 6: SPOTLIGHT: Australia’s loitering munitions, sovereign manufacturing and the future of drone warfare, with Innovaero’s Gregory Tunny
Episode 5: PODCAST: Contested logistics and Australia’s defence industry priorities at Land Forces 2026, with Amentum Australia’s Kim Katheklakis
Episode 4: PODCAST: Containerised solutions and human-in-the-loop systems at Land Forces 2026, with IAI’s Maxim Zemer
Episode 3: SPOTLIGHT: Lockheed Martin Australia’s priorities, leadership and life after service, with Jeremy King
Episode 2: THE PROGRESS REPORT: Leadership, mentorship and life at sea – Commander Melanie Lennard on 17 years in the Royal Australian Navy