Australia has officially entered the military space race with the launch of its Sovereign Space Defence Strategy. The document outlines a 10-year roadmap to develop a domestic capability to build, launch, and operate military satellites, reducing reliance on US assets for critical communications and surveillance.
Key initiatives include the establishment of a dedicated Space Command within the ADF and a $3 billion fund to support local aerospace startups. 'Space is a contested domain,' the Defence Minister noted at the launch. 'Australia must have the ability to protect its interests in orbit.'
The strategy also emphasizes the importance of earth observation data for climate monitoring and border protection, framing space capability as a dual-use national asset. Several launch sites in South Australia and Queensland are being evaluated for upgrade to military-grade status.