Western Australian defence businesses are stepping onto the global stage, with a high-profile delegation set to strengthen industry ties and bolster the AUKUS partnership. Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia will lead more than 20 WA companies to London in September for the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) conference, one of the world’s largest defence exhibitions. Running from 9–12 September, the event will provide a platform for WA innovators to connect with global defence leaders, including the UK’s Secretary of State for Defence John Healey and Royal Navy First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Gwyn Jenkins.
Among the delegation is Greenroom Robotics, a standout example of WA’s cutting-edge defence technology. The company has secured approval to export its AI software to the UK and the United States, a system that transforms any vessel into a fully autonomous, AI-enabled platform. Greenroom’s situational awareness and navigation software is already in use by the Royal Australian Navy, Austal, EGS Survey, and UK-based SubSea Craft, and has been trialled by the US Department of Defence.
“Western Australia has some incredible businesses, and the technology created by Greenroom Robotics right here in WA is already having a global impact and helping to strengthen the AUKUS alliance,” Papalia said. His ambition is clear: to grow WA’s defence sector into the state’s second-largest industry after mining, creating generations of skilled jobs and diversifying the economy.
Beyond DSEI, Papalia will travel to France for discussions with NATO defence officials, positioning WA businesses to support broader defence manufacturing across Europe. The WA Government has identified defence as a key driver of economic diversification, with billions of dollars in Commonwealth-backed projects expected to generate over 10,000 skilled jobs in the state over the next two decades.
This mission underscores WA’s strategic pivot towards defence innovation, leveraging its technological prowess to secure a stronger foothold in global defence markets. As the AUKUS partnership deepens, WA’s role in advancing autonomous naval capabilities and other defence technologies will be critical in shaping the future of military collaboration.