Land combat and protected vehicles Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority Plan released

The Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority Implementation Plan was released alongside the Department of Defence’s detailed Industry Plan. Minister Price said in a media release that the Implementation Plan provides useful information to businesses who already operate with Defence, and those who aspire to join the industry, to invest in a way that best supports the Australian Defence Force’s capability needs.

The initial 10 Sovereign Industrial Capability Priorities (SICPs) were identified in the 2018 Defence Industrial Capability Plan. They’re the industrial capabilities Australia seeks to have access to, or control over, to ensure the Australian Defence Force can achieve its strategic objectives.

Each of the Implementation Plans and supporting Industry Plans further support the partnership between Defence and industry by building a shared understanding of the critical industrial capabilities underpinning these priorities.

The plans describe how Defence will work with industry to build and grow sovereign industrial capabilities. Their intent is to support industry’s business planning and investment decisions to align with Defence priorities. The plans also provide guidance to align capability decisions with Defence’s strategic intent and broader policies.

The new plan follows the release of the combat clothing, and the munitions and small arms plans in December 2019. Implementation and Industry Plans for the remaining priorities will be released by the end of 2020.