September 2026 newsletter

With just one week until the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition 2026 in Perth, the Northern Territory delegation is ready to make its mark.

Comprising 24 local businesses, peak bodies and industry associations, the delegation represents a broad cross-section of Territory capability and innovation.

To support engagement at the event, DefenceNT will host a networking function at the DefenceNT stand. Join us for an afternoon of networking featuring Territory-brewed beer and NT-inspired refreshments. Take the opportunity to meet delegation members, learn about local industry strengths, and explore future partnership and business opportunities.

The Chief of Army Symposium 2026 (CAS 2026) will be held alongside Land Forces 2026 in Perth and is the Australian Army’s premier thought leadership event. Under the theme Hardwired for Adaptation, the symposium will explore the changing character of warfare and the need for continual adaptation across the Army and broader Defence sector.

CAS 2026 will be held on 7-8 October 2026 and can be attended in person at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre or viewed online via livestream.

In-person registrations close at 1900 AEST on Thursday 1 October.

For program details, speaker information and attendance options, go to the Australian Army Chief of Army Symposium 2026 website.

Applications are now open for the 2027 Chief Minister’s Study Tour: Shared History. Shared Future.

Eight Year 9 students from across the Northern Territory will embark on a Study Tour to Okinawa, Japan, during the June 2027 school holidays.

Participants will explore the shared history between Australia and Japan, visit significant historical sites, connect with young people from Japan and experience Okinawan culture firsthand.

Following the success of the inaugural Study Tour in 2026, the program returns to provide another group of young Territorians with an opportunity to broaden their understanding of Australia’s relationship with Japan and the importance of peace, partnerships and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

If you know a young student who may be interested, share this opportunity with them, their family or their school.

Applications close on 16 October 2026.

Learn more and submit an application, go to the Have Your Say Northern Territory website.

The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) has released a Request for Tender for the Land Distributed Tactical Power Management Challenge, seeking innovative technologies to support the Australian Defence Force's future land force energy requirements.

The challenge focuses on scalable power generation, storage and management solutions to support operations at both company and tactical levels.

The initiative is a collaboration between Australia and the United Kingdom and aims to accelerate the development and demonstration of innovative Defence capabilities. Tender responses close on 15 October 2026.

For more information, including challenge requirements and industry briefing details, visit the AusTender website.

This section showcases upcoming Defence-focused events and seminars delivered by industry associations, media and partner organisations. It is intended to support business engagement and knowledge sharing across the defence sector.

Readers are encouraged to follow the links provided for full event details, registration information and updates.

Industry Capability Network (ICN): ICN upcoming events

Master Builders Northern Territory (MBNT): MBNT events

Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce (Chamber NT): NT Chamber events

Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network (NTIBN): NTIBN events

AMDA Foundation Limited: AMDA Foundation Limited events

Australian Industry & Defence Network (AIDN): AIDN events

Consult Australia: Consult Australia events

Charles Darwin University: CDU events

Engineers Australia: Events

Before deciding how to power data centres, decide where to build them

Industry is building the capability and industrial base northern Australia needs

Australia should watch drone development to its north

Request for Information

Market sounding for the establishment of logistics facilities in the Alice Springs and Central Queensland regions.

The Department of Defence’s Defence Support and Reform Group (DSRG) has released a Request for Information seeking market input on land, existing facilities and innovative delivery solutions to support future logistics facilities in the Alice Springs and Central Queensland regions. Defence is exploring scalable and flexible options capable of supporting future operational requirements and logistics activities. This is a market sounding process only and not a procurement activity.

Closes on 13 October 2026.

For more information, go to the AusTender website.

Curriculum Material Development and Delivery

The Department of Defence's Defence Support and Reform Group (DSRG) is calling for tenders to develop curriculum learning and classroom materials and provide face-to-face delivery of the curriculum for the Papua New Guinea Recruitment Pathway Project.

Closes on 9 October 2026.

For more information, go to the AusTender website.

Operational Energy Transitions Defence Research Centre Lead Partner

The Department of Defence is seeking a Lead Partner to provide research leadership and management services for the Operational Energy Transitions Defence Research Centre. The centre will bring together Defence, industry and academia to accelerate the development of deployable energy solutions for future Defence capability.

A virtual industry briefing will be held on 1 October 2026.

Registration is required to attend and closes at 5pm AEST on 28 September 2026.

Closes on 26 October 2026

For more information, go to the AusTender website.

AusTender

Free to use and where you can find Australian Government opportunities, annual procurement plans and contracts award announcements.

For more information, go to the AusTender website.

BenchOn

Where you can access opportunities with government agencies and Primes through BenchOn Industry Portals.

To find out more, go to the BenchOn website.

Gateway by ICN

Where you can find Australia and New Zealand’s largest network of suppliers and projects.

For more information, go to the Gateway by ICN website.

SAM.gov

The official US government system for contracting opportunities and contract award reports.

To learn more, go to the SAM.gov website.

The grants and programs finder is the Australian Government’s central website for all grant and funding products available throughout Australia.

To find out more, go to the Australian Government's Business website.

Defence industry grants

Defence provides a range of grants to support industry. These grants assist Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in expanding to meet Defence capability needs and join global Defence industry supply chains.

For current information on available grant programs, go to the Defence website.

Industry Growth Program offers

The program provides an advisory service for start-ups and SMEs undertaking innovative commercialisation and/or growth projects that are within the priority areas of the Australian Government’s National Reconstruction Fund and help build Australia’s manufacturing capability for the future.

For more information, go to the Industry Growth Program website.

Australian Submarine Agency

Over the next 30 years, the Australian Government will invest $30 billion into Australia’s Industrial Base for industry, infrastructure and workforce development in support of AUKUS.

For more information on grants and funding, go to the Australian Submarine Agency website.