Department of Defence

Name

Department of Defence

Legal name

Department of Defence

Website

https://defence.gov.au

Company type

Public

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Defence Services

NAICS

National Security (928110), National Security and International Affairs (9281), Space Research and Technology (92711)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Military Operations & Force Readiness (BPAIAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Defense Infrastructure, Installations & Base Operations (BPAIAHAK), Defense Acquisition, Procurement & Contracting (BPAIAHAB), Naval C4ISR, Communications & Electronic Warfare (IMABAKAE), Military Space Systems (Defense Spacecraft) (IMABACAC)

Keywords

• National defence operations
• Military capability procurement
• Defence industry partnerships
• Maritime surveillance operations
• Cyber defence services

Headquarters

HQ city

Australian Capital Territory

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Allocation: The Department of Defence is funded through Australian Government budget allocations. Revenue model is based on parliamentary appropriations and defence spending as determined by national security priorities and the 2026 National Defence Strategy.
2. Infrastructure Investment: Major infrastructure projects including $299.1 million facility upgrade at RAAF Base Darwin, $51.6 million aged care replacement on Norfolk Island, and $30.69 million office fit-out in Parramatta.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Department of Defence is the federal government department of the Commonwealth of Australia responsible for defending Australia and its national interests. It delivers integrated military capabilities across five operational domains — Air, Cyber, Land, Maritime, and Space — through the Australian Defence Force (ADF), the Defence Science and Technology Group, and various procurement/acquisition groups. Core outputs include multi-domain military operations, capability acquisition and sustainment (e.g., Collins Class, Hunter Class frigates, F-35A, F/A-18F, EA-18G, C-130J, AIM-260 JATM), defence industry procurement, hydrographic and geospatial intelligence services, and sovereign guided weapons development.

Product overview

The Department of Defence operates a comprehensive portfolio of military capabilities spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber domains. The organization functions as a unified platform with distinct service branches (Navy, Army, Air Force) and supporting corporate functions. Key products include the Collins Class Submarine fleet and Hunter Class Frigate program for maritime capabilities; C-130J Hercules, F-35A Lightning II, F/A-18F Super Hornet, and EA-18G Growler for air power; Bushmaster and Hawkei protected mobility vehicles for land operations; and advanced missile systems including the AIM-260 JATM. Supporting services include geospatial intelligence, hydrographic services, ocean forecasting through the Bluelink Partnership, and cyber warfare capabilities through Palantir platforms. The portfolio is complemented by sovereign weapons development programs like the Koonibba Rising and DRACO solid rocket motors, and emerging space domain awareness through the SkyDome sensor system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Collins Class Submarine Program
• Hunter Class Frigate Program
• Anzac Class Frigate
• Offshore Patrol Vessels
• Nulka Missile Decoy System
• Maritime Communications Modernisation
• Land Combat Vehicle System (Infantry Fighting Vehicle)
• Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle
• Hawkei Protected Mobility Vehicle
• F-35A Lightning II Fighter Fleet
• F/A-18F Super Hornet
• EA-18G Growler Electronic Warfare Aircraft
• E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control
• C-130J Hercules Military Transport Aircraft
• C-27J Spartan Tactical Airlift
• Chinook Heavy-Lift Helicopter
• Multi Role Helicopter Rapid Replacement Project
• Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter Replacement
• Tactical Uncrewed Aerial System
• AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM)
• Koonibba Rising 3.0 Solid Rocket Motor
• DRACO Solid Rocket Motor
• SkyDome Space Domain Awareness Sensor System
• Cyber Reserve Force
• ASCA Undersea Navigation Technology
• Palantir Cyber Warfare Division ICT Platform
• Hydrographic Services
• Geospatial Intelligence Services
• Bluelink Ocean Forecasting Partnership
• ADF Personnel Recruitment and Careers Service
• Defence Industry Procurement Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Cyber Reserve Force established to access specialist cyber expertise across AI, cloud security, network engineering, and incident response
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• United KingdomcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2026Joint statement signed to deepen cooperation on AESA radar capability with Canberra-based CEA Technologies Pty Limited. Ministers reaffirmed commitment to AUKUS partnership strengthening security in Indo-Pacific.
• CEA Technologies Pty LimitedstrategicTechnology or Integration · 13 August 2026Canberra-based company supplying Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar capability. Joint statement with UK to strengthen defence industry cooperation on radar technology.
• QinetiQstrategicTechnology or Integration · 13 August 2026UK company partnering with CEA Technologies to support AESA radar capability development under joint Australia-UK cooperation agreement.
• United StatescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2026Foreign military sales acquisition of AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) from US for approximately $736 million. Australia becomes first country to operate JATM outside US, integrated onto F/A-18F, F-35A, and EA-18G aircraft as part of 2026 National Defence Strategy.
• Bureau of MeteorologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2026Bluelink Partnership renewal for ocean forecasting capabilities between Department of Defence, Bureau of Meteorology, and CSIRO. Provides forecasting from near-shore waters to global ocean circulation, supporting naval operations, maritime safety, fisheries, shipping, search and rescue, and environmental management. Partnership established in 2001.
• CSIROcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2026Bluelink Partnership renewal for ocean forecasting. CSIRO contributes scientific research and modelling capabilities to support Defence operational requirements.
• Quasar Satellite TechnologiescoreTechnology or Integration · 27 July 202612-month trial of SkyDome space domain awareness sensor system in South Australia. Sensor developed by Quasar uses passive radiofrequency technology based on CSIRO research to enable wide-area observation of satellites without transmitting signals.
• Deakin UniversitystrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Collaboration with Deakin University at Waurn Ponds campus to run Navy Engineering Challenge designed to strengthen engineering capability through robotics, 3D printing, and advanced manufacturing techniques.
• Phasor Innovation Pty LtdstrategicTechnology or Integration · 15 May 2026$7.2 million contract awarded to Phasor Innovation as part of Defence Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) Undersea Navigation Challenge to develop undersea navigation technology for autonomous underwater vehicles.
• Nomad Atomics Pty LtdstrategicTechnology or Integration · 15 May 2026$7.2 million contract awarded to Nomad Atomics as part of ASCA Undersea Navigation Challenge to develop solutions for navigating underwater environments where GPS signals are unavailable.
• Q-CTRL Pty LtdstrategicTechnology or Integration · 15 May 2026$7.2 million contract awarded to Q-CTRL as part of ASCA Undersea Navigation Challenge to strengthen Australia's sovereign defence technology and industrial base for undersea navigation capabilities.
• PalantirstrategicTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024$7.1 million contract for 'Industrial Intelligence Capability' in 2024. Largest ever contract with Palantir for Cyber Warfare Division's ICT System Platform at $7.6 million. Total Defence spend with Palantir exceeds $26 million across all contracts since 2013.
• AUKUS Partners (US and UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUKUS advanced capabilities partnership delivering nuclear-powered submarines and advanced capabilities including AI, quantum, cyber, electronic warfare, and hypersonics. Flagship defence partnership for Australia.
• JapanstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia-Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement enabling closer defence cooperation and joint military activities between the two nations.
• SingaporestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia-Singapore Military Training Initiative enabling joint training activities and defence cooperation in the region.
• GooglestrategicTechnology or IntegrationCloud deal signed with Google for AI data centre on Christmas Island. Project includes subsea cable infrastructure connecting island to Darwin, with Google requesting 7 megawatt energy supply for facility to serve as strategic forward base.
• RMIT UniversitystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned RMIT to conduct space cyber security report identifying vulnerabilities in Australia's expanding space sector, recommending sovereign capabilities and Zero Trust principles.
• Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperation Solania supports FFA-coordinated maritime surveillance in Pacific. ADF contributes aerial surveillance and information-sharing with oversight of Pacific nations' maritime resources across more than 320,000 square kilometres.
• AirbusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational contract signed by Denel with Airbus to access new African markets as part of South African defence industry turnaround plan.
• EmbraerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational contract signed by Denel with Embraer to access new African markets as part of defence industry cooperation expansion.
• SafranminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational contract signed by Denel with Safran to access new African markets and expand global defence industry presence.
• Service StreamstrategicTechnology or IntegrationDefence contracts contributing to Service Stream's AUD 3.2 billion in new multi-year contracted works. Company reported 17% increase in adjusted earnings per share driven by improved margins and early profitability from new Defence contracts.
• DroneShield LtdstrategicTechnology or IntegrationStrategic partnership and three-year research agreement with counter-drone technology specialist DroneShield. Company reported record FY2025 revenue of A$216.5 million with A$2.3 billion sales pipeline and A$95.9 million order backlog.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin is a broad incumbent supplier providing many of the platforms operated by the Australian Department of Defence (F-35A, MH-60R, C-130J) and is a core industry counterpart on sustainment and acquisition programs.
• BAE Systems: BAE Systems is a broad incumbent defence prime supplying the Royal Australian Navy's Hunter-class frigate program (Type 26 design), Hawk trainers, and electronic warfare systems, and is a key industry counterpart to Defence acquisition.
• Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman is a broad incumbent supplier of major Defence platforms including the E-7A Wedgetail, F/A-18 components, and advanced weapons, serving as a long-standing industry peer to Defence acquisition programs.

Direct peers

• United Kingdom Ministry of Defence: The UK MoD is a direct peer as a national defence department and the second AUKUS pillar. It shares comparable force structure, parliamentary funding model, AESA radar and undersea capability programs, and a like-sized defence industrial base.
• Japan Ministry of Defense: Japan's MOD is a direct peer as an Indo-Pacific national defence department with reciprocal access agreements with Australia, shared concerns regarding regional security, and a comparable push toward integrated air and missile defence, cyber, and space capabilities.
• United States Department of Defense: The US Department of Defense is the most direct functional peer — a national defence department operating all five military domains, providing joint capabilities, procurement, and strategic policy oversight. Australia's AUKUS relationship and shared platforms (F-35A, EA-18G, AIM-260) make it the closest analogue.
• Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense: South Korea's MND is a direct peer as a national defence department confronting sophisticated regional threats, with comparable scale and multi-domain modernisation across air defence, cyber, and undersea capabilities.
• Department of National Defence (Canada): Canada's DND is a direct peer as a national defence department with Five Eyes interoperability, similar parliamentary appropriations model, and comparable force structure across maritime, land, air, and cyber domains.
• New Zealand Defence Force / Ministry of Defence: New Zealand's defence organisations are direct peer national defence bodies operating under parliamentary appropriation, with close Five Eyes and ANZAC interoperability with Australia and similar contributions to Pacific maritime security and humanitarian operations.

Others

• Palantir Technologies: Palantir is a key enabling technology supplier — its data and cyber platforms underpin Defence's Cyber Warfare Division ICT platform ($7.6M contract, with cumulative Defence spend exceeding $26M since 2013) — making it a closely integrated technology ecosystem peer rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DefenceAust
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClmsPZM64f-WDZ_WREdXLfQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/defenceaustralia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/defenceaustralia
• Instagraminstagram.com/defenceaustralia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Department of Defence