The PRIME destination for defence
manufacturing, supply and sustainment
opportunities in regional Australia.
From aerospace to land, maritime, space and cyber/information technologies, the Greater Hunter Region is a hub of national significance for defence support, supply and sustainment.
Hunter Defence represents and connects companies competing for prime and supply chain contracts. The Hunter Defence Task Force is focused on demonstrating the capability of Hunter-based defence industry suppliers nationally and internationally, as well as upskilling local SMEs to become ‘Defence ready’.
Strategically positioned in proximity to the multi-nodal transport infrastructures of Sydney and Newcastle with established R&D facilities and a highly experienced, high-skills workforce ready for immediate deployment, the Hunter Valley is ideally situated for companies and enterprises of any size seeking to contribute to the sustained development of Australia’s defence capabilities.
Australia’s largest regional economy and home to almost 60,000 businesses
Home to the F-35A Joint Strike Fighters and numerous defence-based primes
Closely integrated with major air, rail, road and port infrastructures
Highly trained high-skilled and experienced local workforce
Home to a world top 175 university, multiple TAFEs and RTOs
Enviable lifestyle near world class beaches, national parks and vineyards
Download the Hunter Defence capability brochure,
The Hunter: A Defence Ready Region, and see the full scope of what’s possible for your defence initiatives.
A wealth of defence knowledge.
A world of strategic opportunity.
Hunter Defence represents over 100 companies in the Hunter Region in support of their defence prime and supply chain goals, helping them articulate their value propositions and capabilities to government and major defence stakeholders.
See what Hunter Defence – and regional NSW – can contribute to your objectives.
The Hunter Defence Conference is AUSTRALIA’S LEADING REGIONAL DEFENCE EVENT where you can meet the people who are meeting the challenges of a rapidly evolving defence landscape.
Statements from Hunter Defence Conference 2023
The Hunter Defence Conference is a fantastic forum for industry leaders to cross-collaborate and share insights. The conference provides a pivotal platform for Hunter based SME’s to work closely with defence primes, assisting to build long-term relationships within the defence industry. Newcastle Airport and Astra Aerolab are excited to work with both local SME’s and multi-national primes to provide research and development facilities, office accommodation and an innovative hub, assisting in driving the success of the Hunter based defence industry.
It is a fabulous ecosystem here in the Hunter, from university research right through to smart manufacturing: It does a great job supporting our nation's defence.
It's wonderful to be able to bring all your industry participants together here on an annual basis to talk about the challenges we face in the defence space.
The Hunter Defence Conference is the only regional defence conference in Australia that brings Primes and SMEs together for a real opportunity to network in the Defence Industry space.
The latest intelligence on events, announcements, trends and developments in the Hunter Region and in Australia’s defence industry.
Applications are now open for the 2026 DINAMIC Commercialisation Bootcamps, a two-day program supporting researchers and innovators to engage with the defence sector.
Delivered in Adelaide, Canberra and online, the bootcamps are designed for participants with limited commercialisation experience who are developing a product or service for defence applications. The program focuses on engagement with the defence market, development of a value proposition, and consideration of pathways to market.
The Hunter Defence Conference attracts over 280+ delegates and keynote speakers from the defence sector nationally. It is unique within regional Australia and key to promoting regional defence industry capability – presenting a strong and unified voice that is heard throughout NSW industry, the NSW Government, nationally, and importantly, by Federal Government representatives.
Innovators across Australia’s defence ecosystem are invited to put their ideas forward, with submissions now open for the Land Forces 2026 Innovation Showcase.
Held as part of the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition, the Innovation Showcase including the Innovation Pitchfest and Awards provides a national platform for both research projects and commercial innovations. It is an opportunity to present leading-edge ideas to an audience of potential partners, investors and customers, while competing for significant cash prizes.
Sign up to the Hunter Defence mailing list to learn about all upcoming events and industry updates.
Email these details to your inbox for free