Welcome to South Australia, Australia’s premier Defence State.

South Australia is a national leader in defence research, development and innovation. Defence, industry, government and universities work together to develop solutions that address Australia’s current and future Defence capability needs.

Home to major Defence programs across the maritime, air, land, cyber and space domains, South Australia combines a highly skilled workforce with a globally competitive defence ecosystem including more than 400 specialised small and medium enterprises, leading research organisations and seven of the world’s top 10 defence companies.

A strong culture of collaboration underpins the state’s innovation success. South Australia’s universities, defence research institutions and industry partners accelerate the translation of research into operational capability, advancing technologies in areas including autonomous systems, advanced manufacturing, sensing technologies and undersea capabilities.

South Australia is also home to world-class defence and innovation precincts, including the Osborne Naval Shipyard, RAAF Base Edinburgh and Lot Fourteen, creating a unique concentration of talent, infrastructure and capability. Osborne Naval Shipyard is one of the world’s most advanced naval shipbuilding facilities and one of only four connected shipyards across the AUKUS partnership, highlighting South Australia’s role in Australia’s future defence capability.

With a long and trusted history in defence science and technology, South Australia continues to play a significant role in supporting the Australian Defence Science and Universities Network (ADSUN) and Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Strategy.

At ADSTAR 2026, Defence SA will be hosting a dedicated South Australian stand for the first time, showcasing the state’s research, development and innovation expertise and providing opportunities to connect with world-leading researchers, industry leaders and Defence stakeholders.

Visit South Australia – The Defence State at Stand 5 from 4-6 August 2026.

Defence SA is the South Australian Government’s lead agency for all defence-related matters, encompassing the Defence Innovation Partnership. We will have State Government representatives onsite at ADSTAR 2026 with expertise across defence and R&D.

The Defence Innovation Partnership fosters defence focused R&D collaboration across industry and academia in South Australia, accelerating the delivery of innovative capabilities for Defence.

South Australia is home to seven of the world’s top ten defence companies and more than 400 small to medium defence-related organisations and leading research institutions. A growing ecosystem of more than 100 space companies is also adding to the State’s space-related capabilities. Together, they reinforce South Australia’s position at the forefront of the nation’s defence and space sectors.

Below is just a snapshot, and the full directory can be viewed here.

Explore a number of South Australian defence innovation projects that are advancing undersea warfare capability, autonomous systems, and next generation maritime technologies below.

South Australian experts will feature prominently at ADSTAR 2026, sharing insights across an array of topics.

Hear how they are driving innovation at the sessions below.

South Australia’s experienced and capable industrial base is part of the supply chain delivering many of the country’s largest and most complex defence projects and is at the forefront of the nation’s space endeavours.

Complementing these strengths are advanced capabilities in advanced systems, aerospace, land and the space sector. The State also drives innovation in defence through collaborative research initiatives such as the Defence Innovation Partnership.

Below is a snapshot of major defence projects currently underway in South Australia.

South Australia is also home to world-class infrastructure and state-of-the-art Defence precincts ensuring local industry is equipped to deliver the defence and space capabilities needed now and into the future.