Australia Builds First Permanent Defence Space Workforce

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will establish a purpose-built space workforce for the first time, with targeted recruitment and training set to begin to meet rising operational needs in the space domain.

Announced as part of the 2024 Defence Workforce Plan, the initiative responds to the growing requirement for highly specialised personnel in areas such as satellite communications, intelligence, surveillance, space control and missile warning. The workforce will expand on the ADF’s existing mix of Navy, Army and Air Force personnel already engaged in space-related roles.

From 2026, the Royal Australian Air Force will begin direct recruitment for Space Operations Specialists and Space Operations Officers, marking a shift towards dedicated space career pathways.

Minister for Defence Personnel, the Hon Matt Keogh MP, said, “Our region is rapidly evolving, and space is a critical operational domain. By establishing a permanent space workforce, we are preparing Defence to lead, integrate and innovate in this contested and congested environment.”

Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 in Townsville is currently serving as a platform for the ADF’s space focus, with Defence personnel collaborating with international partners to run real-time space demonstrations. These activities include the use of commercial data to provide timely reporting on space events in support of military operations.

“Space capabilities will play a critical role in the execution of activities alongside maritime, land, air and cyber domains,” Keogh added. “People are at the centre of our advantage. Defence is building a sustainable space workforce through targeted recruitment, career pathways and joint training.”

The new workforce will eventually cover a wide range of mission areas, including satellite operations, space domain awareness, environmental monitoring, and more. As part of broader international cooperation, the Joint Commercial Operations (JCO) Pacific Cell in Townsville is conducting exercises with participants from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada and South Korea, joined by observers from the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and India.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s space weather team is also supporting the exercise, reflecting the integration of military and civilian capabilities in the space environment.