A bigger, stronger and more lethal Defence Force is better placed to defend Australia and its interests, according to Chief of the Defence Force Admiral David Johnston.
At a round table with Australian media, Admiral Johnston highlighted the ADF's achievements under the 2024 National Defence Strategy, leading up to the 2026 strategy announcement this week.
He said global and domestic news were making Australians more aware of defence and national security issues.
"They don't need to be national security specialists to know and feel that the world is different from what it was a few years ago," he said.
The past 18 months delivered credible capability at speed, including the testing and integration of long-range strike weapons.
In 2024 the Navy successfully tested the Naval Strike Missile, Standard Missile 6 and Tomahawk missile from Australian warships.
The Air Force followed in March 2025 with the first Australian test of the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile from a Super Hornet, while the Army fired the Precision Strike Missile from Australia's first HIMARS launcher last July.
The Navy took delivery of Anduril Australia's Ghost Shark autonomous underwater vehicles, while the Australian-made Ghost Bat uncrewed aircraft system successfully shot down an aerial target for the first time in December.
'They have done it with service, courage, respect, integrity and excellence. I am proud of what our people have achieved.'
Across Defence, new platforms continued to enter service.
For Navy, the first of six Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels were commissioned, work continued under AUKUS to acquire conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines, and Japan's upgraded Mogami-class design was selected as Australia's future general-purpose frigate.
For Army, the first of seven Australian-built Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicles rolled off the production line. The first Apache attack helicopters were delivered and the new Black Hawk helicopter fleet achieved operational readiness.
For Air Force, the first three MQ-4C Triton, the first two MC-55A Peregrines and the 13th P-8A Poseidon aircraft were delivered.
Admiral Johnston said Defence's workforce was also growing. As of March 1, the permanent full-time ADF stood at 62,653 personnel - the highest number since 2002.
The growth was a combination of improved recruiting practices and a lower separation rate, currently at 7.5 per cent.
"Separation rate comprises involuntary separations - those who we seek to leave - and people who choose to leave. The voluntary separation rate is around 4.8 per cent. It's very healthy at the moment," Admiral Johnston said.
Defence also deepened key partnerships, signing the Puk Puk Treaty with Papua New Guinea, hosting the largest Exercise Talisman Sabre yet with 40,000 personnel from 19 countries, and signing a new security treaty with Indonesia.
Admiral Johnston said Defence personnel have worked tirelessly over the past 18 months to defend Australia's interests while delivering changes laid out in the National Defence Strategy.
"They have done it with service, courage, respect, integrity and excellence. I am proud of what our people have achieved," he said.
