A few years ago, artificial intelligence was not something on the radar for many industries. Fast-forward to today and it is taking the defence world by storm | Kirra Davey

A sub-system payload of TEMPO, the compact optical atomic clock developed by QuantX Labs, is now in orbit following its 30 March launch aboard the SpaceX Transporter-16 mission with French space mobility company Exotrail’s Spacevan002.

DroneShield has announced its Q2 2026 software release, delivering coordinated updates across its RF sensing, AI, ATAK-CIV plugin, and command-and-control platforms.

Spiral Blue has announced its first international LiDAR export, a strategic sale to Lodestar Space, a United Kingdom-based company.

A consortium led by Space Machines Company has been awarded $2.9 million in Cooperative Research Centres Projects grant funding from the Australian Government.

March saw developments in two artificial intelligence research projects commissioned by Japan’s Acquisitions, Technology & Logistics Agency, as Japan’s Ministry of Defense ramps up efforts to implement directives on AI induction | Corey Lee Bell

PHM Technology and Sypaq Systems have announced a strategic partnership to deliver PHMT’s MADE software to the Australian Defence Force.

L3Harris Technologies, working alongside its partner nation, Australia, has completed a major mirror refurbishment for the US Space Force’s Space Surveillance Telescope.

Nova Systems has given a $1 million commitment to support national efforts to send Australian astronaut and 2026 Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-Pegg to the International Space Station.

The NSW Government has opened Saber Astronautics’ new research and development laboratory in Chippendale.

Vection Technologies has been awarded a $2.2 million defence contract from a repeat military customer within the European defence ecosystem for its Far Edge Data Retention Appliance.

Adelaide University researchers to develop a cybersecurity system designed to protect drones from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

HEO and UNSW Canberra Space researchers have partnered to perform Australia’s first Rendezvous and Proximity Operations mission with an active propulsion system.

Nova Systems Test & Evaluation Centre of Excellence and RMIT’s School of Computing Technologies to create a one day intensive training program on AI and Machine Learning for Defence industry professionals. 

Terram Astra has announced a seed capital raise to activate a new sovereign ground-based infrastructure platform designed to strengthen defence readiness, space safety, and communications resilience across the Indo-Pacific.

The University of Southern Queensland will commence research into improving understanding of how satellites and rocket bodies break apart during atmospheric re-entry.