SPOTLIGHT: Building Australia's missing middle – how DIDS reshapes defence industry economics

How are university engineering programs and hands-on aircraft design competitions helping develop the next generation of aerospace engineers for Australia's defence industry? Speaking with Defence Connect news editor Robert Dougherty, RMIT University aerospace engineering honours student Marcus Serong discusses his experience competing in the AIAA Design/Build/Fly competition in the United States in April 2026 and how practical engineering experience is shaping his career in the Australian defence sector. The conversation, recorded at the 35th Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, explores the competition's challenges, including designing and building a lightweight aircraft capable of carrying payloads, completing simulated charter flights and deploying a banner. Serong discusses the growing importance of small uncrewed aerial systems in modern warfare, the engineering challenges posed by battery technology and the lessons students can take from developing low-cost, composite uncrewed aircraft. He shares his views on strengthening collaboration between universities and industry, equipping graduates with practical problem-solving skills and creating opportunities for students and tradespeople to enter the defence sector. The discussion also examines what defence companies can do to attract and retain emerging engineering talent, including providing effective graduate onboarding, early involvement in projects and opportunities to work across a range of technical challenges. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

How is Northrop Grumman Australia supporting sovereign defence manufacturing, strengthening local supply chains and developing next-generation counter-drone capabilities?

How is Australia developing sovereign loitering munition capabilities, scaling domestic production and preparing for the changing character of modern warfare? Speaking with Defence Connect news editor Robert Dougherty, Innovaero CEO Gregory Tunny discusses the evolution of drone warfare, the growing importance of affordable precision mass and the lessons emerging from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The conversation explores Innovaero's OWL family of loitering munitions, including the OWL-B and turbojet-powered OWL-X, and how a common mission system, electronics and software can support multiple operational roles, including long-range strike and counter-drone interception. Tunny also discusses the company's participation in the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator's Mission Talon-Strike, which is designed to progress emerging capabilities towards manufacture, certification and potential entry into service. He explains the importance of reliability, testing and certification for weaponised uncrewed systems. The discussion then examines the importance of sovereign manufacturing, with Tunny arguing that Australia must be able to produce affordable drone-based munitions at scale rather than rely solely on access to overseas suppliers. He also outlines Innovaero's plans to expand production capacity following its initial public offering. Looking ahead, Tunny discusses the growing role of autonomy, electronic warfare resilience, software-driven upgrades and increased speed and range in future drone systems. He also examines the importance of maintaining warm production capacity, component stockpiles and the industrial infrastructure needed to rapidly scale output during a conflict. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Spotlight team

From banks battling big tech for AI talent to ransomware attacks exposing sensitive medical records, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft unpack another eventful week in cyber security – including why your supermarket fridge might be a bigger security risk than you think. AI is reshaping everything from banking to elections, but are organisations keeping pace with the risks? Hollingworth and Croft explore the race for AI talent, the collapse of Firmus' proposed $44 billion ASX listing, and growing concerns about AI-generated deepfakes in electoral advertising. With AI adoption racing ahead of governance, the pair examine the challenge of balancing innovation, economic opportunity and accountability. Then it's on to the week's cyber crime headlines, from French supermarkets hit by compromised refrigeration systems to ransomware groups claiming vast troves of sensitive healthcare data. The incidents affecting a pair of Aussie healthcare providers highlight the risks of third-party providers and compromised back-ups. Hollingworth and Croft also discuss why connected operational technology needs stronger security controls and why organisations must treat their suppliers as part of their own cyber perimeter. There's good news, too. Australia's new ASD Essentials framework marks an evolution of the Essential Eight, reflecting a threat landscape increasingly shaped by AI. And in a standout example of AI used for good, Indigenous rangers in Arnhem Land are using MegaDetector to streamline wildlife monitoring, cutting the images requiring analysis by 81.4 per cent. Tune in to Cyber Uncut for the latest developments, sharp analysis and a reminder that technology's biggest risks and most promising applications can emerge from the same place. Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team

Amentum is looking to expand its presence in Australia's defence and national security sectors, with a focus on contested logistics, theatre logistics and support for naval infrastructure.