The Defence Science and Technology Group sits where Defence’s toughest challenges meet Australia’s scientific and technological expertise.
Realising these opportunities requires collaboration across Defence, governments, academia and industry.
This was the message delivered by Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro during the opening of the Australian Defence Science, Technology and Research Summit (ADSTAR) in Adelaide from August 4 to 6.
“ADSTAR is about bringing the whole ecosystem together to build relationships, sharpen the problems and build the teams,” Professor Monro said.
The evolving security environment was a recurring theme throughout the summit, with speakers underscoring the impact of rapid technological innovation and adoption worldwide.
Chief of the Defence Force Admiral Mark Hammond warned that advances in long-range strike weapons, autonomous and uncrewed systems, and increasingly contested space and cyber domains were reshaping Australia’s security environment.
“Potential adversaries no longer need to be near our shores to pose a serious threat,” Admiral Hammond said.
One of the lessons of contemporary warfare Admiral Hammond highlighted was the importance of developing and acquiring capability at speed, pointing to Ukraine’s ability to connect end users directly with industry and shorten the innovation cycle.
“Fostering a similar partnership here in Australia between Defence and industry is critical,” he said.
A major announcement at ADSTAR was the release of the Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy, which outlines how Australia plans to create a competitive edge on and beyond the battlespace.
The strategy seeks to create advantages over potential adversaries, accelerate the transition of innovative ideas into operational capability and strengthen cooperation across the nation’s defence innovation, science and technology ecosystem.
These efforts will focus on several priority technologies, including long-range fires and hypersonic weapons, high-energy lasers, autonomous systems, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and undersea warfare capabilities.
Professor Monro said success would be measured not by partnerships, prototypes or plans, but by the transition of technology into operational use.
Speaking to more than 2000 representatives from Defence, industry and academia, Admiral Hammond emphasised that the ADF’s core business is warfare and readiness, and that every line of effort must support that mission.
