The Australian defence establishment should urgently work with commercial providers to deliver military and dual-use capabilities that can be deployed in months, not years or decades. Government procurement pathways alone cannot meet the demands of the current strategic landscape.
Full exploitation of commercially owned, commercially operated (COCO) models of service delivery would help bridge the gap between Australia’s strategic ambitions and its current capability. COCO defence services are also agile and cheaper.
Private companies can conduct persistent maritime surveillance and operate autonomous logistics networks. They can also deploy and control military-relevant uncrewed systems from operations centres thousands of kilometres from the operations.
Australia’s strategic challenge lies in a shortage of deployable capability. Defence debate often focuses on future programs, larger budgets and acquisition reform, but many key capabilities remain many years from service. Meanwhile, our strategic environment continues to deteriorate. Deterrence must be judged against the capability that exists today and in the very near future.
The 2024 National Defence Strategy recognised this by adopting a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach, mobilising industry, technology and infrastructure alongside military power to build resilience. COCO should be viewed as a valuable tool in this.
by The Strategist – For fast defence capability, look to commercial providers
