Ausco Celebrates National Recognition at the 2026 Australian Defence Industry Awards
Ausco is proud to celebrate an outstanding result at the 2026 Australian Defence Industry Awards, with the company and its leadership recognised across multiple categories on the national stage.
The highlight of the evening was Ausco being named Smart Base & Security Technology of the Year, recognising the innovation, engineering and successful deployment of Australian-developed technology supporting defence and security applications.
Ausco was also named a finalist for SME of the Year and Export Business of the Year, recognising the company’s continued growth, expansion into international markets and commitment to building sovereign Australian engineering and manufacturing capability.
The evening also saw Ausco Director Alex Murphy awarded Rising Star of the Year – SME, while also being named a finalist for Engineer of the Year – SME.
Alex was further recognised as an Excellence Award Finalist, placing him among the Top 10 individuals across all award nominees nationally.
Together, these achievements represent an important milestone for Ausco and recognition of the extraordinary work being undertaken by our entire team.
Smart Base & Security Technology of the Year
Receiving the Smart Base & Security Technology of the Year award is particularly significant for Ausco.
The award recognises our development and deployment of advanced technology designed to improve situational awareness, resilient communications, operational effectiveness and security in challenging environments.
Our approach brings together capabilities spanning systems engineering, advanced manufacturing, resilient communications, remote and autonomous systems, integrated monitoring and maritime technology to develop practical solutions for complex operational requirements.
Importantly, these technologies are supported by the engineering and advanced manufacturing capability within the Ausco Group, allowing us to take projects from initial concept and systems engineering through to manufacturing, integration, testing, deployment and ongoing support.
The award represents an important validation of Ausco’s continued investment in sovereign Australian technology and engineering capability.
Recognising the Growth of Ausco
Being named a finalist for both SME of the Year and Export Business of the Year provides further recognition of the transformation underway across Ausco.
Building on an Australian engineering and manufacturing heritage stretching back to 1946, the business has undergone significant growth over the past four years.
During this period, Ausco has expanded its engineering and advanced manufacturing capabilities, grown its team, entered international markets, established Ausco Marine, and continued investing in new technologies across defence, maritime autonomy, subsea systems, resilient communications and advanced manufacturing.
This evolution has seen Ausco build upon almost 80 years of engineering and manufacturing experience while developing the people, technologies and capabilities required to address the next generation of Defence and national security challenges.
Our recognition as an Export Business of the Year finalist is particularly meaningful as Australian-designed and manufactured Ausco technologies continue to enter international markets.
It demonstrates that sovereign Australian SMEs can develop advanced technologies locally and successfully deliver them to customers around the world.
Recognising Leadership and Engineering
The 2026 Awards also delivered significant individual recognition for Ausco Director Alex Murphy, who received the Rising Star of the Year – SME award.
Alex was additionally named a finalist for Engineer of the Year – SME and selected as an Excellence Award Finalist, recognising him among the Top 10 individuals across all award nominees nationally.
The recognition follows Alex’s return to the family business in 2022 and his role in helping lead the next stage of Ausco’s development.
Over the four years since, Ausco has significantly expanded its engineering capability, invested in new technologies, established Ausco Marine and increasingly positioned itself within Australia’s defence industry and international markets.
We are incredibly proud to see this leadership recognised alongside some of Australia’s leading defence industry professionals.
Great Engineering Is Built by Great People
While awards recognise particular technologies, companies and individuals, none of these achievements happen in isolation.
Behind every Ausco project is a multidisciplinary team of engineers, machinists, fabricators, apprentices, technicians, project personnel and business operations professionals working together to solve complex problems and deliver high-quality outcomes for our customers.
The Smart Base & Security Technology of the Year award belongs to that entire team.
So too does our recognition as a finalist for SME of the Year and Export Business of the Year.
These achievements reflect the technical expertise, craftsmanship, determination and willingness to continually challenge what is possible that our people bring to Ausco every day.
Great engineering is built by great people.
Building What’s Next
As a third-generation Western Australian family business, national recognition at the Australian Defence Industry Awards is a proud milestone in Ausco’s history.
But it is also a reminder of the opportunity ahead.
We remain committed to investing in our people, engineering and manufacturing capability and the development of sovereign Australian technologies that can support Defence, national security and critical industries in Australia and internationally.
To our employees, customers, suppliers, research partners, mentors and industry collaborators — thank you.
Your trust, collaboration and support have helped make this journey possible.
Congratulations to all the finalists and winners at the 2026 Australian Defence Industry Awards. We are proud to stand alongside the individuals and organisations helping strengthen Australia’s sovereign defence industrial capability.
For Ausco, this is another important milestone — and we’re excited for what comes next.
STRIVE FOR PERFECTION. MAKE THE BEST, BETTER. IF IT DOES NOT EXIST, DESIGN IT.
