The Government’s investment priorities for the Defence Innovation Hub have been announced for the current financial year.
In 2017–18, the body will seek proposals aligned with the six capability streams identified in the Defence Integrated Investment Program:
- intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, space and cyber
- key enablers
- air and sea lift
- maritime and anti-submarine warfare
- strike and air combat
- land combat and amphibious warfare
Within these six capability streams, the top three priorities for investment in the 2017–18 financial year in priority order are:
Priority 1: Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Electronic Warfare, Space and Cyber
These capabilities are critical to maintaining the ADF’s decision-making superiority and ability to conduct operations safely and effectively. In 2017–18, there will be an increased focus on ISREW enabling joint decision support, cyber and joint capability edge.
Priority 2: Key Enablers
Key enabling capabilities include critical infrastructure (such as bases, training ranges, ports and airfields), information and communications technology, logistics, science and technology, health services, and future energy resilience (including national and Defence fuel management).
Defence is seeking innovative proposals for new technologies, improved methods or practices, and better ways of integrating systems to strengthen these enabling capabilities. In 2017–18, key enablers adds a focus on autonomous identification technologies.
Priority 3: Land Combat and Amphibious Warfare
Land forces require the mobility, firepower, protection and situational awareness capabilities to deploy quickly, achieve their objectives, and return home safely. Defence is seeking innovative submissions for leading-edge equipment to bolster our land forces in these capability areas, including amphibious warfare. In 2017–18, land combat and amphibious warfare will add an increased focus on special operations capabilities.
Since its launch in December 2016, the Defence Innovation Hub has seen a positive response from industry to the existing capability priorities which have been reconfirmed by Defence’s Force Gaps and Opportunities Analysis.