22 January 2025
The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) is excited to announce the launch of Mission Black Thorn, as part of ASCA’s mission program following an announcement from the Honourable Pat Conroy MP, the Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery on Wednesday 22 February 2025.
Two Australian industry partners have entered into 12-month contracts with Defence, worth $61.5 million, to further develop and demonstrate their integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) technology.
Mission Black Thorn follows ASCA’s approach to market for Problem Statement 1:
How might the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) penetrate and degrade advanced integrated air defence systems so that Defence can conduct effective long-range strike operations, taking into account speed and scale required to operate in congested and contested environments that is faster than a potential adversary’s ability to react?
This mission is the first to proceed through the full mission problem statement development process. The commencement of Mission Black Thorn is a huge milestone for ASCA and demonstrates Defence’s commitment to supporting innovation, in partnership with Australian industry.
The ASCA mission program is a new approach to rapidly pull through disruptive technologies into capabilities. All missions are driven by problem statements aligned to Defence priorities.
