How can the UK and Australia deepen defence industry cooperation while balancing high-end capabilities with Ukrainian-style affordable mass?

In this episode of Momentum Media's Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard during his current visit to Australia.

Minister Pollard is undertaking a broader tour of the country's defence industry and headlining the Australian British Chamber of Commerce's Defence Industry Lunch in Perth on 17 August.

The podcast conversation includes the following topics:

• The UK's approach to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), Canada's new observer status and the potential for further international partners to join the program.
• The UK's focus on building defence capabilities with allies through shared workshares, technology and industrial cooperation.
• Defence technology co-development with Ukraine, including two-way intellectual property sharing and the scaling of Ukrainian and British capabilities.
• The role of innovation and rapidly changing electronic warfare requirements in shaping how Western militaries support Ukraine.
• The UK's approach to a "high-low-mid mix" of defence advanced platforms, mid-range systems and affordable mass.
• Opportunities for Australian defence companies to enter the UK market, including the potential integration of CEA Technologies' active electronically scanned array radar into UK capabilities.

Finally, the discussion wraps up by examining how closer UK–Australia defence industry partnerships can strengthen sovereign capability while creating skilled jobs, apprenticeships and long-term employment opportunities in both countries.

Enjoy the podcast.