After the keel was laid on the first Hunter-class frigate in Osborne, South Australia, the Hunter Defence Conference returned to the Hunter Valley on 26 and 27 August 2026.
Approximately 300 people from Defence and defence industry attended for the sixteenth iteration of the event.
The theme of the conference was Build Your Defence Strategy and much of that strategy was focused on Australian small and medium enterprises (SME), with multiple speakers throughout the conference highlighting SMEs in the Hunter and beyond.
Key topics explored during the two-day event included drones, national security, the value of the Hunter region to Defence and industry, supply chain resilience, capabilities, AUKUS and potential future conflicts.
Chair of the Hunter Defence Taskforce, retired Air Commodore Tim Owen, encouraged delegates to use the conference to build relationships and the knowledge required to strengthen their Defence strategies.
“Build relationships that will help shape the future of our nation,” Owen said.
Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley, opened the conference with an emphasis on seeking out Hunter-based SMEs.
“Capabilities don’t turn into contracts by themselves. SMEs need access and access needs to be built,” she said. “The Hunter is the place to be.”
The Hunter region has seen multiple defence developments over the past year, including Lockheed Martin Australia’s announcement of its Air Power Precinct and the topping out ceremony for the Kongsberg Missile Factory.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy echoed Minister Catley’s emphasis on the Hunter’s importance.
“The Hunter has been the jewel in the crown for defending Australia since our earliest days, built on an incredible historical legacy,” he said.
Questions were raised over what disruptions would occur to Australia’s defence supply chains when the nation went from peacetime competition to international conflict. Speakers and delegatessuggested prioritising Australian SMEs over primes with overseas headquarters.
Issues of concern included a desire for an increase in the use of Australian SMEs with an emphasis of more Australian technology being a part of defence solutions, as well as greater supply chain resilience for industry.
ADM understands that many are keen to see industry be active much earlier in the process with Defence.
Another sentiment reflected by speakers and delegates throughout the conference was the need to further invest in Defence, with concerns of low political incentives to invest in the sector.
The importance of drones was highlighted, with the caveat that they act as an extender of other capabilities, not an all-encompassing replacement nor a replacement of humans.
There were also calls from some speakers and delegates for a national security strategy to further develop the country’s defence.
AUKUS, as the hot topic of Defence, industry and even the public, was also raised. Some speakers made the argument that the United States is still committed to the protection of the Indo-Pacific.
The United Kingdom’s part under the trilateral agreement was also raised by some. ADM understands that the Americans are aware of the need for the British to ‘pull their own weight’ under the agreement.
Some speakers suggested that the US wants the rest of the world to be doing things for themselves and to not be the world’s policeman. If both Europe and Australia were to follow this suggestion, it was inferred that the continent and the country respectively would be stronger strategic and defence partners for it.
Air 6500 was also mentioned at the conference. ADM understands more options are going to be considered under Air 6500 compared with Air 6502 and that the space is very different to the 2024 time period.
Disclaimer: The journalist was invited to the Hunter Defence Conference.