View source for Defence Science and Technology Group

{{Short description|Group within the Australian Department of Defence}}
{{For|the Pakistani organisation|Defence Science and Technology Organization}}
{{Advert|date=November 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name     = Defence Science and Technology Group
|nativename      =
|logo            = Australia Defence Science and Technology Group horizontal crest logo.svg
|logo_width      = 
|logo_caption    =
|seal            =
|seal_width      =
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|headquarters    = [[Fairbairn, Canberra]], Australia
|formed          = 
|preceding       =
|dissolved       =
|superseding     =
|jurisdiction    = [[Commonwealth of Australia]]
|employees       = 2300
|budget          =$633&nbsp;million<ref>{{cite web |title=PORTFOLIO BUDGET STATEMENTS 2023-24 BUDGET RELATED PAPER No.1.4A DEFENCE PORTFOLIO|url=https://www.defence.gov.au/about/accessing-information/budgets/budget-2023-24|access-date=28 March 2024}}</ref>
|minister1_pfo   = [[Minister for Defence (Australia)|Minister for Defence]]
|chief1_name     = Prof [[Tanya Monro]] {{small|(from March 2019)}}
|chief1_position =
|parent_agency   = [[Department of Defence (Australia)]]
|child1_agency   =
|child2_agency   =
|website         = {{url|https://www.dst.defence.gov.au}}
|footnotes       = 
}}
The '''Defence Science and Technology Group''' ('''DSTG''') is a part of the [[Department of Defence (Australia)|Australian Department of Defence]], which provides science and technology support to Defence and defence industry. The agency's name was changed from '''Defence Science and Technology Organisation''' ('''DSTO''') on 1 July 2015.<ref name="DST name change">{{cite press release|title=Stop Press! Name Change|url=http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/news/2015/07/31/stop-press-name-change|access-date=9 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919223409/http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/news/2015/07/31/stop-press-name-change|archive-date=19 September 2015|url-status=live|date=31 July 2015|quote=As part of the First Principles Review implementation, from 1 July 2015 the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) has been renamed as the Defence Science and Technology Group.}}</ref> It is Australia's second largest government-funded science organisation after the [[CSIRO]] and its research outcomes have supported operations for over 100 years.

DSTG employs over 2500 staff, predominantly scientists, engineers, IT specialists and technicians.

DSTG has establishments in all Australian states and the Australian Capital Territory with representatives in Washington, London and Tokyo. It collaborates with science and technology organisations around the world to strengthen its technology base and works with Australian industry and universities to enhance defence capability. DSTG is a member of [[The Technical Cooperation Program]] (TTCP) with the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. It also has bilateral defence science agreements with USA, UK, France, Sweden, Netherlands, Norway and Singapore. In February 2012, DSTG was given the whole-of-government responsibility to co-ordinate research and development for Australia's national security.

== Locations ==

DSTG has its headquarters at [[Fairbairn, Canberra|Fairbairn]] in Canberra with sites in each [[States of Australia|state]] of Australia:
*South Australia: [[Edinburgh, South Australia|Edinburgh]] and [[Port Wakefield, South Australia|Port Wakefield]], north of [[Adelaide]].<ref>The area in South Australia occupied by DSTG was renamed from [[Salisbury, South Australia|Salisbury]] to [[Edinburgh, South Australia|Edinburgh]] in 2002.</ref>
*Victoria: [[Fishermans Bend]], [[Melbourne]].<ref>The DSTO Maribyrnong site was shut down in May 2007 and all remaining personnel were moved to a new facility within the existing DSTG Fishermans Bend site.</ref>
*New South Wales: [[Eveleigh, New South Wales|Eveleigh]], Sydney.<ref>DSTG Pyrmont commenced moving to Redfern in 2008.</ref>
*Queensland: [[Pullenvale, Queensland|Pullenvale]] in [[Brisbane]], and [[Innisfail, Queensland|Innisfail]], North Queensland.
*Western Australia: [[HMAS Stirling|HMAS ''Stirling'']] at [[Rockingham, Western Australia|Rockingham]], south of [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]]
*Tasmania: [[Scottsdale, Tasmania|Scottsdale]]

It also has a presence in the [[Russell Offices]] in [[Canberra]], in the [[Australian Capital Territory]].<ref>Personnel at the DSTG Canberra Fern Hill Park site moved to new facilities at [[Fairbairn, Canberra|Fairbairn]] during 2007 & 2008.  DSTG staff are also located in [[Russell Offices]], Campbell Park Offices, Brindebella Business Park and various scientific liaison officers are located "on the south side of the lake".</ref>

Previous sites have included:
*Fern Hill Technology Park in [[Bruce, Australian Capital Territory|Bruce]], Canberra
*[[Pyrmont, New South Wales|Pyrmont]], on the shore of Sydney Harbour
*[[Maribyrnong, Victoria|Maribyrnong]],  Melbourne

== History ==
The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) was created in 1974 by amalgamating the Australian Defence Scientific Service with the Science Branch of the Department of Defence. Over the next 20 years various other Australian Defence laboratories were integrated with DSTO, including what remained of the Weapons Research Establishment, responsible for the [[Woomera, South Australia|Woomera]] test range.

* 1907 – Defence science begins in Australia.
* 1910 – The start of explosives research at a guardhouse (called the Chemical Adviser's Laboratory) at [[Victoria Barracks, Melbourne]].
* 1911 – [[Defence Explosive Factory Maribyrnong]] established at [[Maribyrnong, Victoria|Maribyrnong]].
* 1912 – Small Arms Factory established at [[Lithgow, New South Wales|Lithgow]].
* 1921 – Munitions Supply Board created within Department of Defence.
* 1922 – Chemical Adviser's Laboratory became the Munitions Supply Laboratories (MSL) of the Munitions Supply Board.
* 1929 – Proof Range established at [[Port Wakefield, South Australia|Port Wakefield]].
* 1939 – Aeronautical & Engine Research Test Laboratory established at [[Fishermans Bend]] as part of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR now [[CSIRO]]) Division of Aeronautics.
* 1940 – Department of Munitions established. [[Salisbury Explosives Factory]] and Finsbury Munitions Factory built within rural environs of [[Adelaide]].
* 1946 – Munitions Supply Laboratories (MSL) established at [[Finsbury, South Australia]] (later known as Woodville North when the suburb name was changed) as a branch of MSL at Maribyrnong.
* 1946 – [[Anglo-Australian Joint Project]] established at Woomera, with aviation support at RAAF Base Mallala.
* 1947 – [[Long Range Weapons Establishment]] (LRWE) formed in [[Salisbury, South Australia]] to support the guided weapons facility at Woomera.
* 1948 – Munitions Supply Laboratories changes its name to Defence Research Laboratories.
* 1949 – Fishermans Bend laboratory transferred from CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) to the Department of Supply & Development; renamed Aeronautical Research Laboratories (ARL). Australian Defence Scientific Service established, incorporating LRWE and the Defence Research Laboratories.
* 1949 – Laboratory established in [[Alexandria, NSW]] as part of Defence Research Laboratories to undertake research in physical metallurgy and metallurgical chemistry areas.
* 1949 – Three new laboratories formed in Salisbury – High Speed Aerodynamics Laboratory, Propulsion Research Laboratory and the Electronics Research Laboratory, collectively known as the Chemistry & Physics Research Laboratory.
* 1953 – Defence Research Laboratories changes its name to Defence Standards Laboratories.
* 1955 – LRWE and all the Salisbury laboratories amalgamated to form the Weapons Research Establishment (WRE). [[RAAF Base Edinburgh]] established near Salisbury, superseding Mallala.
* 1956 – The [[Royal Australian Navy]] (RAN) Experimental Laboratory established.
[[File:ABC Black Box.ogv|thumb|1985 [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] news report interviewing [[David Warren (inventor)|David Warren]] about his invention of the [[Flight data recorder|'Black Box']].]]
* 1957 – [[Flight data recorder|Black Box flight recorder]] invented by [[David Warren (inventor)|Dr David Warren]] – originally named the ARL Flight Memory Unit. Its descendants are now installed in large airline aircraft and most military aircraft.<ref>Each country defines which aircraft are required to carry "Black Boxes". For example: Australia:  [http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2012C00103 CAO 20.18, para 6.1]; USA: [http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFAR.nsf/0/AB26EE24BCCACACA8625745D0072929E?OpenDocument §121.343], [http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFAR.nsf/0/DABF5AC9B9936DA18625771F0069C5CD?OpenDocument §121.344] and [http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFAR.nsf/0/E70EE8374FD1C18D8625771F0069C74F?OpenDocument §135.152] of [[Federal Aviation Regulations|Chapter 14 of the US Code of Federal Aviation Regulations]]; etc.</ref>   
* 1958 – The Army Food Research Laboratories were formally established at [[Scottsdale, Tasmania]] under the Quartermaster General Branch, Army Headquarters. The Laboratories' role included research and development of foods for the three Services. Laboratories renamed Defence Food Research Establishment-Vegetable Dehydration Division in 1958.
* 1960 – The Defence Food Research Establishment-Vegetable Dehydration Division renamed The Army Food Science Establishment.
* 1961 – The Army Food Science Establishment renamed The Army Food Research Station.
* 1962 – Joint Tropical Research Unit (JTRU) established in [[Innisfail, Queensland]] and operated jointly with the British Ministry of Defence.
* 1967 – Built and launched [[WRESAT]], Australia's first artificial satellite.
* 1969 – RAN Experimental Laboratory changes name to RAN Research Laboratory (RANRL).
* 1971 – The Army Food Science Establishment renamed the Armed Forces Food Science Establishment.
* 1972 – ARL transferred to the Department of Manufacturing Industry.
* 1974 – As a result of Defence restructuring, the Defence Science & Technology Organisation (DSTO) is created by integrating the Australian Defence Scientific Service, the in-house R&D units of the Armed Services and the Science Branch of the Department of Defence. Defence Standards Laboratories becomes the Materials Research Laboratories (MRL).
* 1975 – Official transfer of all Defence R&D activities to DSTO in the Department of Defence. The Armed Forces Food Science Establishment (AFFSE) became part of the Service Laboratories and Trials (SLT) division of DSTO.
* 1977 – Joint Tropical Trials and Research Establishment established (JTTRE), merging JTRU and Tropical Trials Establishment situated at [[Cowley Beach, Queensland]].
* 1977 – MRL, Woodville North transferred to CSIRO Division of Materials Science.
* 1978 – WRE split into four smaller laboratories: Weapons Systems Research Laboratory (WSRL), Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL), Trials Research Laboratory (TRL) and Advanced Engineering Laboratory (AEL). The four laboratories were collectively known as the Defence Research Centre Salisbury (DRCS).
* 1982 – The Armed Forces Food Science Establishment became a part of Materials Research Laboratories (MRL).
* 1984 – RAN Research Laboratory transferred to WSRL.
* 1985 – Materials Research Laboratories, [[Alexandria, NSW]] transferred to Army.
* 1987 – Five year restructuring of DSTO laboratories begins. New Surveillance Research Laboratory created and WRE's Electronics Research Laboratory reorganised. RANRL transferred to MRL and renamed. 
* 1989 – Control of Cowley Beach was returned to the Army and Innisfail became MRL, Qld.
* 1992 – The UK-Australia Tropical Research agreement terminated.
* 1991 – WSRL abolished to leave four laboratories in DSTO.
* 1994 – ARL and MRL merge to form the Aeronautical & Maritime Research Laboratory (AMRL) headquartered in Fishermans Bend. Surveillance Research Laboratory and Electronics Research Laboratory merge to form the Electronics & Surveillance Research Laboratory (ESRL) headquartered in Salisbury, leaving only two laboratories in DSTO.
* 1994 – The Armed Forces Food Science Establishment was renamed The Defence Food Science Centre (DFSC).
* 1997 – ESRL complex rationalised and new "Knowledge Systems Building" in [[Edinburgh, South Australia]], (the newly renamed part of Salisbury containing DSTO), officially opened. The Defence Food Science Centre (DFSC) was renamed Defence Nutrition Research Centre (DNRC). Port Wakefield Proof Range became the Proof and Experimental Establishment.
* 2002 – DSTO restructured, resulting in three laboratories: Platforms Sciences Laboratory, Systems Sciences Laboratory and Information Sciences Laboratory.
* 2002 – DSTO, along with the Royal Australian Air Force and the Canadian Forces, wins the [[International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences|ICAS]] von Karman Award for International Cooperation in Aeronautics for its international program assessing the fatigue life of the F/A-18 A/B Hornet aircraft.<ref name="ICAS">[http://www.icas.org/media/pdf/Awards/Awards%20history.pdf International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences].</ref><ref>[http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/news/3317/ DSTO wins international award for aeronautical work] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322172016/http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/news/3317/ |date=22 March 2012 }}.</ref>
* 2003 – Maritime Operational Analysis Centre (MOAC) opened at [[Garden Island, Sydney]]
* 2004 – H A Wills Structures and Materials Test Centre officially opened at Fishermans Bend.
* 2004 – CBRN functions transferred from [[Maribyrnong, Victoria|Maribyrnong]] to Fishermans Bend.
* 2004 – Torpedo Systems Centre and Maritime Experimentation Laboratory opened at DSTO Edinburgh
* 2006 – DSTO and US Air Force sign agreement on Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation ([[HIFiRE]]) Program.
* 2008 – Professor [[Robert Clark (physicist)|Robert Clark]] appointed Chief Defence Scientist, the first external appointment to the post since 1991.<ref>[http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/news/5485/ Professor Robert Clark appointed as new CDS – 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919023125/http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/news/5485/ |date=19 September 2008 }}.</ref>
* 2009 – DSTO and US Air Force complete first successful launch under the Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation (HIFiRE) Program, confirming that the test vehicle turned onto the correct heading and elevation for re-entry into the atmosphere as designed.<ref>[http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/news/5669/ Trialling hypersonic flight at Woomera] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510181024/http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/news/5669/ |date=10 May 2012 }}.</ref>
* 2010 – DSTO organises the [[Multi Autonomous Ground-robotic International Challenge]] with US Army.
* 2012 – DSTO, along with the US [[Air Force Research Laboratory]], Boeing Research & Technology and the University of Queensland, wins the ICAS von Karman Award for International Cooperation in Aeronautics for collaboration on the Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation (HIFiRE) Program.<ref name="ICAS"/>
* 2012 – Dr [[Alex Zelinsky]] appointed Chief Defence Scientist in March 2012.<ref name=Zelinsky>[http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/news/6816/ Dr Alex Zelinsky appointed as new CDS – 2012] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503075604/http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/news/6816/ |date=3 May 2012 }}.</ref>
* 2015 – DSTO becomes DSTG.
*2019 – Professor [[Tanya Monro]] appointed Chief Defence Scientist in March 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dst.defence.gov.au/news/2019/01/24/new-chief-defence-scientist-announced|title=New Chief Defence Scientist announced|date=2019-01-24|website=www.dst.defence.gov.au|access-date=2019-01-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.science.org.au/news-and-events/news-and-media-releases/academy-fellow-appointed-chief-defence-scientist|title=Academy Fellow appointed Chief Defence Scientist {{!}} Australian Academy of Science|website=www.science.org.au|access-date=2019-01-24}}</ref>
*2025 – Three year collaboration between DSTG's Information Sciences Division and India’s [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] (DRDO) to enhance undersea surveillance capabilities, with a focus on detecting and tracking submarines and autonomous underwater vehicles.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Trivedi |first=Saurabh |date=2025-07-03 |title=India, Australia launch joint research project on undersea surveillance |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-australia-launch-joint-research-project-on-undersea-surveillance/article69769203.ece |access-date=2025-07-06 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-07-06 |title=India, Australia launch research project to bolster undersea surveillance |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-australia-launch-research-project-to-bolster-undersea-surveillance/articleshow/122272769.cms |access-date=2025-07-06 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-07-03 |title=Indian pact bolsters undersea surveillance |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2025-07-03/indian-pact-bolsters-undersea-surveillance |access-date=2025-07-06 |work=defence.gov.au}}</ref>

==Chief Defence Scientist==
The Chief Defence Scientist of Australia leads the Defence Science & Technology Group (DSTG Group).<ref name=DSTO>[http://www.dst.defence.gov.au DSTG website], dst.defence.gov.au</ref> Prof. [[Tanya Monro]] is the current Chief Defence Scientist, having taken up the role in March 2019.<ref name="leadership">{{cite web |url=https://www.dst.defence.gov.au/discover-dsto/our-leadership |title=Our leadership |publisher=Defence Science and Technology |access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! Chief Defence Scientists  || Period in office
|-
| Dr [[Alan Butement]]      || 1949–1967
|-
| [[Howard Arthur Wills|H A Wills]] || 1968–1971
|-
| Dr [[John Farrands|J L Farrands]] || 1971–1977
|-
| Prof [[Peter Thomas Fink|Tom Fink]] || 1978–1986
|-
| [[Henry d'Assumpcao]]     || 1987–1990
|-
| Dr [[Robert George Ward|R G Ward]]             || 1991–1992
|-
| Dr [[Richard Brabin-Smith|R G Brabin-Smith]] || 1993–2000
|-
| Dr [[Ian Chessell]]       || 2000–2003
|-
| Dr [[Roger Lough]]        || 2003–2008
|-
| Prof [[Robert Clark (physicist)|Robert Clark]]     || 2008–2011
|-
| Dr [[Alex Zelinsky]]      || 2012–2018
|-
| Prof [[Tanya Monro]] || 2019–
|}

== See also ==
* [[Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation|ANSTO]] (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation) – Australia's national nuclear organisation and the centre of Australian nuclear expertise
* [[Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation|CSIRO]] (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) – the national government body for scientific research in Australia
* [[NICTA]] (National ICT Australia) – Australia's national information and communication technology research centre
* [[South Australian Aviation Museum]] – repository of DSTG's historic rocket collection from the period 1950 – 1980.
* [[The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP)|TTCP]] (The Technical Cooperation Program) – An international defence science and technology collaboration between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://www.dst.defence.gov.au/ Official DSTG Website]
**[https://www.dst.defence.gov.au/discover-dst/about-dst/ About DSTG]
**[https://www.dst.defence.gov.au/discover-dst/our-divisions/ DSTG Divisions]
**[https://www.dst.defence.gov.au/discover-dst/our-history/ DST Group History] and [http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/publications/historical.php?year=2008&category=&sub= Historical Publications]
**[https://www.dst.defence.gov.au/publications/scientific-publications/ Unclassified Scientific Publications] (about 4,000)

{{ADF Leadership}}
{{Australian Defence Force}}
{{Australian Department of Defence}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Military of Australia]]
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[[Category:Leadership of the Australian Defence Force]]
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