Star Wars in Australia: Government pledges $7b for drone defence boost
Published 21 April 2026, 6:19 am
Australia has pledged up to $7 billion in anti-drone systems to bolster its defence capabilities. The federal government is pointing to current conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East as examples of the changing face of warfare, where drones have reshaped the battlefield. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy has touted Australia’s anti-drone defence capabilities as no longer science fiction, saying “Star Wars is happening right now in Australia.”