Australia at the Centre of Indo-Pacific Security
As regional tensions ebb and flow and increasing defence investment reshape the security landscape, the Indo Pacific region has become a critical arena for defence innovation and cooperation. The Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition, held in Sydney from 4–6 November 2025, showcased this transformation in full — revealing how Australia is rapidly evolving from a defence customer to a strategic contributor and trusted partner in maintaining regional stability.
By Ben Khandan, Managing Director, Austability Australia
This year’s Expo made one thing unmistakably clear: with its strategic location, Australia is no longer on the sidelines of defence innovation. Across the exhibition floor, well regarded Australian and international companies demonstrated capability in areas ranging from autonomous maritime systems and AI-enabled surveillance to secure communications, sustainment engineering, and energy resilience.
Supported by growing investment in research and development and underpinned by initiatives such as the AUKUS partnership, FIVE EYES and the Defence Industry Development Strategy, Australia’s defence landscape is expanding — not just in capacity, but in confidence. The country is reaping the benefits of positioning itself as a regional hub for high-end defence technology, systems integration, and logistical sustainment, facilitating resilience and stronger collaboration between allied countries.
What this means in practice is that the region’s most advanced defence capabilities are increasingly being enhanced with homegrown expertise ensuring that those assets remain mission-ready in the Indo-Pacific’s demanding environments.
A recurring theme at Indo Pacific 2025 was that technology alone does not secure stability — sustainment does. From shipyards to forward operating bases, the ability to move, maintain, and support advanced assets determines their strategic value and ultimate success.
The Indo-Pacific presents unique challenges in this regard: vast distances, limited infrastructure in remote regions, and complex supply chain dependencies across multiple borders. Sustaining operations at this scale requires more than materials — it demands agility, foresight, and a network of logistics providers and associated planning that link industry and government in a seamless support infrastructure system.
This is where companies like Austability play a crucial role. Established in 2015, Austability has built its reputation on providing critical logistical support and sustainment solutions to defence and national security organisations operating in complex and dynamic environments. Importantly, Austability’s unique capacity to successfully deliver critical logistics support is strengthened by its workforce –90 percent of whom are ex-service men and women from around the world.
Our mission is simple: to foster peace and security, and make sure the right people, equipment, and systems are in the right place at the right time. In the context of Australia’s growing regional role, that mission translates into a wide spectrum of capability — from base operations support, supply chain management, and deployment logistics, to training, workforce readiness, and on-the-ground sustainment.
Austability’s global reach, coupled with an Australian operational base, enables us to act as a bridge between defence agencies and the practical realities of deployment and sustainment.
By doing so, we help ensure that the innovation showcased at Indo Pacific 2025 isn’t just displayed — it’s deployed, supported, and sustained where it matters most.
The conversations at Indo Pacific 2025 underscored the importance of partnerships — between nations, industries, and defence industry suppliers. In a region defined by strategic competition and rapid technological change, Australia’s defence and security and that of the broader Indo Pacific region will rely on the strength of these partnerships and its ability to deliver lasting capability.
For Austability, this means demonstrating our capability with industry ‘primes’ and regional partners to deliver end-to-end logistical solutions that underpin operability. Whether supporting maritime sustainment, expeditionary operations, or humanitarian and disaster response, Austability’s expertise helps extend the operational reach of those working to keep the Indo-Pacific stable and secure.
As Australia’s strategic and industrial roles continue to grow, the nation is being recognised not only as a trusted ally, but as a critical enabler of Indo-Pacific security. The innovation and collaboration on display in Sydney are signs of a defence industry that is ready — and a logistics sector that is fundamental and indispensable.
For Austability, the path forward is clear: continue building the networks, partnerships, and capabilities that ensure Australia’s defence ambitions are backed by reliable, responsive, and resilient support. Because in the end, investment in defence infrastructure may define capability — but effective logistics determines success.
To learn more about how Austability Australia can support your mission, contact Ben Khandan at benk@austability.com
