By Darian Macey, August 7 2024
As new capabilities evolve, so does the infrastructure required to support them. That’s why attending “Current and Future Capabilities” at the Defence + Industry Conference was invaluable. Hearing directly from the key project sponsors—Vice Admiral Mark Hammond (Chief of Navy), Major General Richard Vagg (Head Land Capability), Air Vice Marshal Wendy Blyth (Head Air Capability), and Lieutenant General Susan Coyle (Chief Joint Capabilities)—was worth the price of admission alone.
Vice Admiral Mark Hammond kicked off the session by discussing the transformative changes underway in the Royal Australian Navy. He spoke about the Navy’s significant efforts to enhance its capabilities. He highlighted the recent successful firing of the Naval Strike Missile by HMAS Sydney, which demonstrated the Navy’s growing lethality and operational reach. Hammond emphasised the indispensable role of industry partners in these endeavours, urging continued collaboration to support the Navy’s ambitious goals.
Next, Major General Richard Vagg took the stage to outline the Australian Army’s strategic transformation. He detailed how the Army is shifting its focus from traditional Middle Eastern operations to optimising for littoral (coastal) operations and long-range strike capabilities. Vagg highlighted the Army’s restructuring efforts, including the establishment of the First Australian Division as the unit of action, and the development of new doctrines for operating in complex, multi-domain environments. He stressed the importance of clear and honest communication between the Army and industry to ensure supporting projects stay on schedule and within budget.
Air Vice Marshal Wendy Blyth followed with an update on the Air Force’s ongoing recapitalisation and the introduction of cutting-edge capabilities. She explained that airbases are critical to all Air Force operations, serving as hubs for logistics, maintenance, and personnel. Blyth underscored the importance of industry support in maintaining and upgrading these facilities. She also highlighted key priorities such as integrated targeting, long-range strike, and expeditionary air operations, which are central to the Air Force’s future strategy.
Lieutenant General Susan Coyle concluded the panel by focusing on the emerging domains of cyber and space. She pointed out that these areas are now recognised as critical warfighting domains in their own right, requiring innovative approaches and rapid implementation of new technologies. Coyle announced plans to establish a domain engagement forum to foster stronger interactions between defence and industry, emphasising the need for early industry input to develop effective capabilities.
Here are my key takeaways from the session:
- Transformative Change: Each branch of the ADF is undergoing significant transformation to adapt to modern threats and operational environments. This includes new strategies, doctrines, and capabilities across the Navy, Army, and Air Force.
- Industry Partnership: The success of these transformations heavily relies on robust partnerships with industry. The ADF leaders repeatedly stressed the need for clear, honest communication and collaboration to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.
- Focus on Innovation: There is a strong emphasis on integrating cutting-edge technologies, particularly in the cyber and space domains. The ADF is looking to industry to provide innovative solutions that can be rapidly implemented to maintain an asymmetric advantage.
- Capability Recapitalisation: Each service branch is focused on recapitalising and modernising its capabilities. This includes new vessels and strike capabilities for the Navy, long-range fires and littoral manoeuvre capabilities for the Army, and advanced aircraft and support systems for the Air Force.
- Strategic Alignment: Understanding and aligning with the National Defence Strategy and the Integrated Investment Program (IIP) is crucial for industry partners. These documents outline the government’s priorities and funding allocations, providing a roadmap for future investments and collaborations.
The session underscored the dynamic nature of Defence right now. It was clear that the ADF is committed to transforming its forces to meet future challenges, and that industry will play a pivotal role in this journey. As an audience member, I gained a deeper appreciation for the complexities involved and am eager to see how this transformation will impact future infrastructure requirements.
Author: Darian Macey
Darian is a former Engineering Officer with the RAE with tertiary qualifications in Engineering and Project Management. He is a leading practitioner within Australia's NSI sector with previous employment in Government, project management and building contractor organisations.
