Grabbing opportunities presented by emerging AI and quantum technologies sits at the centre of the federal government’s latest defence strategy. Launched by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on the first day of the ADSTAR summit in Adelaide, this year’s innovation, science, and technology plan is a “10-year blueprint to accelerate the delivery of innovative solutions and new technologies for Defence and strengthen Australia’s sovereign industrial base”. The strategy focuses on six key capabilities:long-range fires and hypersonic weaponshigh-energy lasersautonomous systemsquantum technologyartificial intelligenceundersea warfareMarles said he wants the plan to encourage government, industry, research institutions, and universities to work together to build future defence capabilities.