Deterrence and the Army’s littoral focus

Army will be optimised for littoral manoeuvre and long-range strike, to boost lethality and threat response.

The recently issued 2026 National Defence Strategy says deterrence remains Defence’s primary strategic objective.

Army will focus on defending Australia and its immediate region, the Indo-Pacific, and preventing adversaries from projecting force against Australia, particularly through northern approaches.

In announcing the strategy, Defence Minister Richard Marles said, as an island trading nation, Australia’s sea lines of communication defined its national security.

“The geography of our national security lies well beyond our coastline or even our immediate waters,” Mr Marles said.

“We therefore need a defence force that can be out there, that can engage in impactful projection.”

For Army, the strategy says this means focusing on the littoral environment by operating along coastlines, islands and chokepoints to support sea denial, joint force projection and sustained operations in contested environments.

The Integrated Investment Program commits a total investment in an amphibious combined-arms land system of $48-$59 billion over the coming decade. This includes $11-$12 billion for littoral manoeuvre vessels.

The program provides $425 billion for capability priorities, including an additional $53 billion to strengthen the resilience of the sovereign defence industrial base, while delivering for the integrated, focused force.

Included for Army are uncrewed aerial and ground systems for surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting and logistics, integrated into Army’s combat formations.

Acquisition of drone and counter-drone technologies will be accelerated and continually upgraded to address emerging threats and capabilities.

The high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) is also undergoing an accelerated and expanded acquisition, providing Army with a deployable long-range strike capability, with precision strike missiles to be introduced progressively to extend its range.

Planning is under way to increase stockpiles of land-based long-range fires munitions, as well as ramping up sovereign manufacturing.

The 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program are available online at: https://www.defence.gov.au/nds