The Australian Government is investing almost $40 million in emerging technologies and artificial intelligence to strengthen the Australian Defence Force’s ability to make faster and more accurate decisions, according to the Department of Defence.
In a statement, Defence said the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) has signed 14 new contracts under its Emerging and Disruptive Technologies program to support “Decision Advantage” capabilities across air, land, maritime, space and cyber domains.
Decision Advantage, defined by Defence as the ability to make better decisions faster than potential adversaries, is one of six priority capability effects outlined in the 2024 National Defence Strategy.
Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro AC said the investment reflects Defence’s focus on adapting to a rapidly changing information environment.
“As technology evolves, Defence is continually investing in the cutting-edge capabilities the Australian Defence Force needs to keep Australians safe,” Monro said.
She added that the program aims to build long-term partnerships with industry, research institutions and universities “so we can develop the technology we need faster.”
The contracts support work in areas such as machine reasoning, automated data integration and artificial intelligence, with projects awarded to a mix of universities and Australian companies across several states.
Defence said 123 submissions were received through the program, highlighting what it described as the “breadth and depth” of Australia’s sovereign science and technology capability.
Head of ASCA Major General Hugh Meggitt said the funding would help inform future capability development.
“The investment of $40 million in the EDT Decision Advantage Program is an important activity to develop future capability and inform potential future ASCA missions to provide an asymmetric advantage to the ADF,” he said.
According to Defence, the EDT program is intended to help shape and future-proof Australia’s defence innovation ecosystem, with an emphasis on home-grown solutions to emerging challenges in an increasingly complex strategic environment.
