The Focus

27 Feb 2026

Australian Defence Force | Boutique Capability or Credible Deterrence? | Mel Pikos | TFP #96

Sovereignty is not declared — it is built.

In this episode of The Focus, Dr John Bruni and Mel Pikos explore the structural foundations of Australian defence: industrial capacity, force readiness, and long-term resilience.

For an island continent, strategic autonomy is not optional.

Tags: Policy, Sovereign, Capability, Recruitment, Retention, Procurement, Sustainment, Industrial, Base, Autonomy, Readiness, Resilience, AUKUS, ADF, Australian, Defence, geopolitics, Indo-Pacific, industry, military, Munitions, national, security, strategy

Back to News

What decision are you facing?

Tell us what you’re weighing up and when you need to act. We’ll discuss how a briefing, advisory session, written assessment or ongoing intelligence support could help your team decide its next move.

Discuss your requirements