Australia to Boost Defence Spending on Drones and Autonomous Systems

Australia is set to increase its defence spending on drones and autonomous systems by an additional $2 billion to $5 billion over the next decade.

This move will raise the total investment in uncrewed systems to between $12 billion and $15 billion, according to Defence Minister Richard Marles.

The announcement comes ahead of the release of Australia's new Integrated Investment Program (IIP) and the 2026 National Defence Strategy, both scheduled for publication later this week.

The increased funding will support the development and acquisition of a range of drone technologies, including large uncrewed systems such as the Ghost Bat and Ghost Shark, as well as smaller, more cost-effective drones.

While the exact Defence projects that will be deprioritised to accommodate this shift in funding have not yet been disclosed, Minister Marles emphasized the importance of maintaining pace with the evolving use of autonomous systems in modern conflicts.

The government plans to prioritise local manufacturing to support Australia's sovereign defence industry and create jobs.

This strategic investment reflects lessons learned from recent conflicts, including the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East, where autonomous systems have demonstrated significant asymmetric advantages over traditional platforms.

Expanding Australia's fleet of autonomous and uncrewed systems is intended to enhance national security and technological innovation.

The Defence Minister has indicated that the detailed plans will be outlined in a speech to the National Press Club and through the forthcoming IIP and National Defence Strategy documents.

The government's commitment to increasing defence investment continues a trend of bolstering Australia's military capabilities.

The announcement coincides with Australia's participation in an international summit involving over 40 nations focused on safeguarding shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.

This highlights Australia's broader strategic interests in regional security.

Opposition figures have also been active in policy discussions, with proposals addressing immigration and national values, though these are separate from the defence spending plans.

What remains unclear is which existing defence projects will be scaled back or reprioritised to free up the additional funds for drone and autonomous system development.

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