Australia needs industry support to design, develop and sustain capabilities to manage the anticipated surge in intelligence data over the next decade, according to Maj. Gen. Brett Mousley, head of intelligence capability for Defence Australia’s Defence Intelligence Group.
At a DIG briefing held at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra, Mousley highlighted the need to automate processes to keep pace with the increasing complexity of intelligence operations. He cited his experience at Headquarters Joint Operations Command, where analysts spend their resources on tasks such as source research and report formatting, leaving limited time for critical analysis and assessment.
Mousley said this is where the industry’s expertise and capacity to handle large-scale data processing could come in. “We need to get the most out of our workforce by getting them to focus on the things that only humans can do in the system, applying expert judgment and generating insights through assessment,” the intelligence head added.
Precise Targeting Capability
Established in 2020, DIG delivers intelligence capabilities to aid ADF’s operations and establishes policies and frameworks to support the government’s decisions regarding intelligence functions. Mousley said the agency seeks solutions in software-driven analytics, machine learning and automation.
DIG also wants to collaborate with the industry in developing and expanding the Defence Targeting Enterprise, a network of sensors, communications and intelligence systems for which the Department of Defence has allocated $3.7 billion to $5 billion in its 2024 Integrated Investment Program.
According to Mousley, the goal is to enhance Defence’s ability to “detect, identify and track targets more precisely and at longer ranges in challenging environments.”