Australia’s defence is set to receive a $3.4 billion innovation boost over the next decade to establish the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) that will deliver advanced technologies urgently.
This new initiative is a response to the findings of the Defence Strategic Review, which concluded that Australia needs more effective support for innovation, faster acquisition, and better links between Defence and industry to deliver the capabilities that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) needs.
The ASCA will be a key element of the Defence innovation, science, and technology program.
Check out: Publicly released Defence Strategic Review to improve the ADF
“The Defence Strategic Review makes clear that Australia must invest in the transition to new and innovative technologies for our Defence Force. This is precisely what the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator will deliver,” Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles said.
The ASCA will focus on priorities such as hypersonics, directed energy, trusted autonomy, quantum technology, information warfare, and long-range fires.
It will also adopt a flexible and agile approach to procurement, ensuring that game-changing ideas are developed into capabilities that give the ADF an asymmetric advantage.
“This is the most significant reshaping of defence innovation in decades that will deliver vital capabilities for the ADF, as well as create more jobs in the Australian defence industry commercialising the technologies,” Minister Marles said.
Check out: Australia needs to focus on boosting defence innovation
The ASCA will be guided by senior officials in Defence including the Vice Chief of the Defence Force, the Chief Defence Scientist, and the Deputy Secretary, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group.
The ASCA will be up and running quickly by 1 July 2023, with a phased start-up over the first 18 months to develop, test, and refine the operating model.
The ASCA will replace the Defence Innovation Hub and Next Generation Technologies Fund, which the Defence Strategic Review identified as no longer fit for purpose in Australia’s current strategic environment.
This move is expected to deliver more effective support for innovation, faster acquisition, and better links between Defence and industry to deliver the capabilities that the ADF needs.