Suppliers await next step in Australia's mine warfare transition

Australia's mine-countermeasure transition remains unsettled as Huon-class vessels approach retirement and industry awaits the next procurement decision. Defence is accelerating interest in autonomous surface and underwater systems that can search, classify, identify, and neutralize mines while keeping crews outside the danger area. Suppliers see an opportunity to provide modular payloads and service-based capabilities, but the future force structure has not been finalized. Avoiding a capability gap will require timely contracts, integration with command networks, trained operators, sufficient support vessels, and rigorous testing in Australian waters.