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Australia will push to speed up capability acquisition and address operational gaps with the defence industry under the launch of a Defence Digital Engineering Strategy.
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The Defence Digital Engineering Strategy is a key outcome of the Defence Industry Development Strategy and 2024 National Defence Strategy, which identified the need for Defence to accelerate digital technologies.
Built upon digital transformation programs undertaken by the United States Department of Defense, the engineering strategy outlines Defence’s commitment to streamline processes through an approach that better connects people, tools, and data.
The outcome is expected to result in increased collaboration with industry, better decision making, and faster introduction of capability across the Australian Defence Force.
Deputy Secretary Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group Chris Deeble said the Defence Digital Engineering Strategy was a critical step in further developing how Defence and industry work together.
“By working more closely with industry in this space, existing partners and small to medium enterprises will have the opportunity to contribute to the design of shared collaborative platforms, delivering speed to capability in a secure and streamlined digital environment,” Deeble said.
“The Defence Digital Engineering Strategy is about leveraging technologies to enhance efficiency, accessibility and innovation.
“This strategy marks an important milestone in Defence’s digital transformation journey in line with the National Defence Strategy, and further opens the door for industry-wide digital engineering consultation and collaboration.”
Under the strategy, Defence will work in close consultation with industry and universities to develop a greater understanding of digital engineering practices for collaboration.
Last month, Australian defence industry leader Travis Reddy challenged the Department of Defence to find domestic rather than international solutions during a charged call to arms public address.
The chief executive officer of Australian defence technology developer DefendTex recently accepted the prestigious “Defence Innovator of the Year – Company” award at the 2024 Australian Defence Industry Awards in Canberra last month.
“It’s an honour to receive this award and on behalf of all the Australian companies that work on innovation for defence, I want to take this opportunity to say that innovation is a mindset and it applies to everything we do,” Reddy said during a speech acknowledging the award.
“There’s no point coming up with innovative solutions if the processes around us aren’t innovative, and I’m referring specifically to acquisitions. There’s no point operating at a rate that’s relative to the problem if we don’t acquire at the same rate.
“My appeal to (the Department of) Defence is that while you’re looking for defence innovation, look to the many Australian companies and many universities that are innovative in what they do before you look overseas.
“The answers to most of your problems are probably here in this room (of defence industry).
“To the men and women of the Australian Defence Force who are the reason we are all here, thank you and we continue to serve you in our own way.”
