Australia's future defence hinges on innovation and delivery through long-term strategic partnerships with industry.
That was the clear message from senior Defence leaders at the Indo Pacific 2025 maritime exposition and conference.
Speaking on a panel, Deputy Secretary Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group Chris Deeble, Deputy Secretary Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group (NSSG) David Hanley, and Chief Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Group Air Marshal Leon Phillips said enduring partnerships were essential to secure Australia's strategic advantage.
Chaired by the Royal Australian Navy's Rear Admiral Steve Tiffen, the delivery management panel reinforced the importance of the partnerships between Defence and Australian industry to meeting the long-term needs of the Australian Defence Force.
Air Marshal Phillips echoed Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond's opening address at Indo Pacific 2025, stressing our ADF relied on great industry partnerships.
"Building and delivering capability for sovereign manufacturing can't be done without deep partnership where Defence fosters industry transformation," Air Marshal Phillips said.
Mr Hanley, who was appointed earlier this year, outlined Defence's shift from transactional, contract-by-contract dealings to building strategic partnerships with NSSG and Navy.
'What you are seeing now is a much more mature understanding within Defence of the full lifecycle.'
He said industry should be investing in developing innovative manufacturing techniques in the shipyard to meet the long-term needs of the ADF.
"Having a strategic partnership means having common goals around continuous sustainment at a national scale," Mr Hanley said.
"We want [industry] to have a corporate capability that could manufacture everything, from landing craft to Mogami-class frigate."
Mr Deeble said early engagement with industry and alignment at the strategy phase set the project up for success.
Under the 2024 National Defence Strategy and the Integrated Investment Program 2024, Defence rationalised 650 stovepipe projects and moved to 280 programs of work.
"What you are seeing now is a much more mature understanding within Defence of the full lifecycle," Mr Deeble said.
"Aligning with the Defence need is the critical factor."
To find out more about how Defence and Defence industry partnerships provide critical capability, project and sustainment activities visit Business & Industry | Business & Industry | Defence
