Byron Bright, president of KBR’s Mission Technology Solutions unit, says Australia needs to invest more in technological innovation for its defense and security, especially amid rising global tensions.
In an opinion piece in The Australian published Tuesday, Bright, a 2025 Wash100 awardee, stressed the need for the country to quickly adopt new technologies and build up a skilled workforce to sustain them. This two-pronged approach, he says, will enable a more assertive defense posture for the Australian Defence Force. He adds that Canberra should encourage innovation by integrating advanced global tech and developing homegrown solutions.
As an example, Bright points to KBR’s Iron Stallion, a space domain awareness tool now used by ADF’s Space Command. He says the command and control solution, built through the Texas-based firm’s extensive space experience, was rapidly deployed and customized to meet the Australian government’s needs. Iron Stallion is now integral to Canberra’s space-based surveillance capabilities, providing crucial data for space domain awareness.
Beyond importing outside tech, the executive argues that combining global tech with Australian expertise could benefit allied nations. He cites the work of KBR’s Australian team, which provides secure communications for the Royal Australian Navy and crucial engineering support for the U.S.-made MQ-4C Triton drone.
He concludes by saying Australia needs to nurture and share a culture of “innovation and ingenuity” with its allies to ensure regional and global security.
Bright’s call to action comes as KBR continues its long-standing support for Australian defense. Last November, the Australian government extended KBR’s contract to maintain ADF’s deployed information communications technology for another two years. Earlier, KBR secured a separate $81.8 million contract to service the Royal Australian Navy’s amphibious and replenishment ships.