This report discusses the failure of Western military institutions, including in Australia, to learn from modern wars, while other countries do. The paper’s five recommendations address culture change, promotion reform, AI-enabled learning, rapid drone capability development, and acquisition reform.

The development of Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) – such as high energy laser and high-power microwave weapons – offers the Australian Defence Force a future solution to countering the growing threat of drones, but also missile threats. This explainer explores the nature of DEW and considers what steps Australia is taking in this field.

In the past two decades, drones have transformed from niche military tools into widely available 'commercial off-the-shelf' technologies. The combination of easy accessibility and payload potential, and the limitations of domestic counter-drone systems, presents a growing challenge. This policy brief provides three recommendations to address this vulnerability.

This report finds that increasing drone use in Australia presents a range of benefits for communities – particularly for regional areas, and in emergency relief and disaster management. The report also identifies a number of benefits, as well as challenges, facing drone uptake across the country.

This strategy document sets out Australia’s future approach to aviation safety regulation and oversight for remotely piloted aircraft systems and advanced air mobility.