Key Developments
On 21 September 2026, the Department of Defence awarded 15 strategic policy grants after receiving 199 applications. The Department of Defence also said Australia and New Zealand signed Plan Tasman to improve naval training, capability development and operational alignment.
Key Statistics
- 15 new Strategic Policy Grants awarded by Australia in 2026
- 199 applications received for the Strategic Policy Grants Program
- $66.5 million in total funding requested through grant applications
- 3 years covered by the successful grant research projects
- More than 160 years of Royal Australian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy ties
- Historical: $2.4 billion Australian air and missile defence investment announced in September 2026
- Historical: 360 skilled jobs linked to Australia’s air and missile defence investment
Main Body
On 21 September 2026, the Department of Defence said Australia had awarded 15 grants under the 2026 Strategic Policy Grants Program after receiving 199 applications requesting $66.5 million. On the same day, the Department of Defence said the Royal Australian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy had signed Plan Tasman.
The Department of Defence said the grants would support research on national preparedness, defence cooperation and regional deterrence over the next three years, with the program intended to strengthen public debate and partnerships. The Department of Defence said Plan Tasman was designed to deepen cooperation in personnel training, capability development and operational alignment between the two navies.
The announcements followed recent Australian defence modernisation steps. On 9 September 2026, the Minister for Defence announced a $2.4 billion air and missile defence investment expected to support more than 360 skilled jobs. Also on 9 September 2026, the Minister for Defence said the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System had reached Final Operational Capability.
The measures mattered because the Department of Defence linked the grants to defence and national security policy work, while the Department of Defence framed Plan Tasman as a response to Indo-Pacific security challenges. Together with the Minister for Defence air and missile defence investment, the announcements showed Australia pairing policy research, alliance coordination and operational capability development.
