Wedoany.com Report on Feb 24th, Australia and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their close partnership in the defence manufacturing and technology sectors at the Australia-UK Defence Industry Dialogue held on February 23.
The meeting was co-chaired by UK Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Luke Pollard and Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy, marking the resumption of the dialogue since the 2025 ministerial consultations and highlighting the ongoing collaborative relationship between the two nations. The ministers emphasised that strengthening industrial collaboration is crucial for advancing advanced capabilities and addressing the complex global security environment.
The meeting discussed progress on Active Electronically Scanned Array radar technology cooperation and explored the potential application of Australian AESA systems in the UK, with planned risk reduction activities to provide support. Australia also invited the UK to observe MQ-28A testing scheduled for 2026 at Woomera and identified opportunities for collaboration in directed energy weapons and software-enabled planning systems.
Supply chain resilience emerged as another focal point, with both sides agreeing to deepen work on energy and munitions supply, critical minerals for defence technologies, and the shared steel industrial base for the AUKUS submarine programme. The dialogue also welcomed the arrival of HMS Anson in Perth to support Australia in developing sovereign industrial capacity for operating future nuclear-powered submarines. Furthermore, the meeting noted progress in reactor manufacturing activities and investments in submarine infrastructure and design supporting the SSN-AUKUS programme.
The two governments reaffirmed their support for Ukraine's defence efforts, including exploring opportunities for the UK to test weapons at Australian ranges. The ministers described the dialogue as a vital platform for advancing defence manufacturing, technology cooperation, and workforce capabilities. They directed relevant agencies to take practical measures to streamline collaboration, approvals, and standards processes between the two countries to foster more efficient industrial cooperation.
