Latest Defence Industry News

Aurora Labs has appointed Andrew Garth as chief executive, moving former CEO Rebekah Letheby into a newly focused chief operating role. The reshuffle is intended to separate commercial strategy from technical execution as the company pursues scaled manufacturing and defence opportunities.

Civmec delivered double-digit earnings growth in FY26, with its new defence arm helping lift the order book to A$1.4 billion. The stronger profit came alongside a sharp working-capital squeeze that left operating cash flow negative after investment in growth.

Innovaero Technologies is seeking A$40 million through a proposed ASX listing to advance its OWL loitering munition program and expand manufacturing capacity. The replacement prospectus also makes clear that the company remains loss-making and heavily dependent on the Department of Defence converting development work into production orders.

Latrobe Magnesium is shifting its growth priority to a proposed 50 ktpa magnesium plant in South Carolina, backed by 32 ktpa of non-binding customer interest and a 20-year feedstock agreement. The project carries substantial indicative economics, but still needs funding, site acquisition, feasibility work, permits and binding offtake contracts.

Hydrix is ramping up its defence technology efforts, focusing on sensing and autonomous systems aligned with Australia’s $425 billion 2026 National Defence Strategy. The company is developing internal prototypes and forging partnerships to commercialise intellectual property in counter-drone and ISR applications.

IperionX has landed a second U.S. Army task order worth US$11.5 million to expand its industrial-scale titanium manufacturing capacity in Virginia, advancing its integrated powder-to-part platform for defense applications.

Civmec delivered a robust FY26 with 11.4% revenue growth and a 22.5% jump in net profit, underpinned by a diversified project pipeline and strategic defence expansion.

QEM Limited’s review of the Big It Tungsten Project in Idaho reveals significant untapped high-grade tungsten, antimony, and gold mineralisation with extensive underground workings, setting the stage for a modern exploration campaign amid strategic supply concerns.

HighCom Limited’s FY26 results reveal a sharp revenue drop and widening loss driven by a US Government shutdown, but a strengthened leadership team and expanded global sales pipeline set the stage for recovery.

Mader Group Limited has surpassed $1 billion in revenue for the first time, reporting a 15% increase in both revenue and net profit after tax for the financial year ended 30 June 2026. The company continues to expand its global footprint with strong growth in Australia and North America.

Li-S Energy reported a reduced net loss of $4.9 million in FY26, propelled by major technological advances and a $7.8 million ARENA grant to scale manufacturing. The company secured key regulatory approvals and expanded strategic defence partnerships, positioning itself at the forefront of sovereign lithium sulfur battery supply.

Aurora Labs posted a 36% increase in net loss to $5.1 million for FY2026 despite securing key defence contracts and partnerships. The company is transitioning from R&D to early commercialisation of its micro gas turbine propulsion systems, backed by a $5.5 million capital raise and government grants.