Australia’s revised defence investment plan: what it means for land warfare
Australia is receiving M1A2 Abrams in a refresh of its tank fleet. (Photo: Australian DoD)
Australia’s 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program have been adjusted from the 2024 version to promote greater military and industrial self-reliance, taking lessons learned from ongoing conflicts and looking to reinforce the industrial base.
The Australian government is set to spend an additional A$53 billion (US$38 billion) on defence over the next decade in a revision of its 2024 National Defence Strategy (NDS) and Integrated Investment Program (IIP). It will take total procurement over the decade to A$425 billion.
The naval domain dominates the investment programme with up to A$130 billion allocated to undersea platforms – a large part of which will go towards the country’s efforts to replace its fleet of Collins-class submarines with nuclear-powered submarines through the AUKUS programme. A further investment of up to A$77 billion is also set to be
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