Overview
- The government set the Australian Defence Force on a deterrence and self‑reliance path with the 2026 National Defence Strategy.
- The strategy assigns five core tasks that include defending Australia and its near region and denying any hostile power projection.
- The Integrated Investment Program outlines up to $130 billion for undersea warfare, $77 billion for frigates and destroyers, $59 billion for land systems, $41 billion for air and long‑range strike, and $35 billion for hypersonic weapons and extended‑range missiles.
- Officials put industry at the center, with plans to build a local defence base to cut supply shocks and reliance on concentrated foreign sources.
- The plan also funds stronger northern bases, logistics, health, cyber security, and work through the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator.