The 2026 National Defence Strategy commits $425bn and names sovereign industry as a national security requirement. The question is whether Australian SMEs – the sector with the most to offer and the most to lose – can access what is being promised. The answer lies not just in policy intent, but in the adoption of structured, standards-based collaboration and experience in navigating the Primes.

1. The Strategic Moment

2. The Case for Structured Collaboration

3. What SMEs Bring and Why It Requires Structure to Unlock

4. The Supply Chain Benefits of Structured Collaboration

5. The Barriers and How The Standards Address Them

6. The Practical Pathway for SMEs and Primes Alike

7. The Test of The Strategy