Key Developments
On 18 August 2026, the Minister for Defence said Australia had completed South Australian field trials of Project Boobook, a high-energy laser system co-developed with Japan. The minister said the trials supported further development, commercialisation and a $70 million manufacturing investment in Australia.
Key Statistics
- $70 million in manufacturing investment linked to further development and commercialisation of the high-energy laser system, according to the Minister for Defence
- $2 million historical contract for Bisalloy Steel to supply submarine-grade steel to the United States, according to the Minister for Foreign Affairs
- $160 million historical combat helmet supply and refurbishment contract with Aquaterro for the Australian Defence Force, according to the Minister for Defence
- 75,000 helmets to be supplied under the historical Aquaterro arrangement, according to the Minister for Defence
Main Body
On 18 August 2026, the Minister for Defence said Australia had completed field trials in South Australia of Project Boobook, a high-energy laser system developed with Japan. The minister said the project was the first defence industry co-development activity between the two countries and was intended to improve surveillance capability.
According to the Minister for Defence, the trials gave officials and industry technical information for the next stages of development and commercialisation. The minister also linked the work to a $70 million investment in new Australian manufacturing facilities, placing the project within a broader effort to turn defence research into deployable and producible capability.
The laser announcement followed Australia's wider defence technology push, as GPS previously reported. On 4 August 2026, the Minister for Foreign Affairs said defence science cooperation was central to Australia's response to a changing strategic environment, and the minister announced a $2 million Bisalloy Steel contract tied to submarine-grade steel for the United States.
The development mattered because the Minister for Defence presented Project Boobook as both a capability project and an industrial collaboration with Japan. In practical terms, the announcement connected operational testing, domestic manufacturing and partner-based technology development, reinforcing Australia's stated approach of using allied industry and science partnerships to support defence readiness.
