There was a major Indo Pacific defence industry innovation event that took place at the Indo Pacific Conference 2025 that you may have missed – the official launch of the Defence Industry Alliance Link (DIAL). The launch showcased an AI defence sourcing platform designed to accelerate international defence collaboration across allied nations.

A Game-Changing Indo Pacific Defence Industry Innovation: Introducing DIAL

With so much opportunity and optimism on show at Indo Pacific, it was easy to get caught up in the conversations and miss the events that were on. But if you missed it, one of the biggest game changers for how international defence industries do business with each other was just launched by BenchOn.

DIAL is the world’s first AI defence sourcing platform powered by advanced AI matching. The platform enables participating nations to register their defence-related companies, connect with allied partners, and access opportunities for collaboration, exports, and defence industry supply chain support.

Expanding International Defence Collaboration Beyond AUKUS

DIAL was launched at the event ‘Industry and Allies – Beyond the Pact (Expanding market presence and forging strategic alliances in AUKUS and beyond)’. BenchOn’s CEO, Tim Walmsley, was joined on stage by Kelly Hopkins, National Defence Director at Hays, Josh Copland, Program Lead ANZ Defence and Space Industry, Innovation Norway, and Martin Blom, the Norwegian Defence Counsellor to Australasia, to talk through how businesses can expand their international focus outside of AUKUS defence opportunities to work with other allied nations. This bridges the gap between the likely launch dates of AUKUS programs and allows companies to diversify and keep revenue coming in while they wait.

The natural question from the floor was ‘if there are so many opportunities to work with other allied nations, how do we access these opportunities?’. Well, the DIAL portal, due to go live in 2026, has the answer.

DIAL will seamlessly connect international allied defence industries so that any company, of any size, can now source globally on the same scale as global defence primes. The best news is that suppliers and exporters can use this system for free! No fees ‘to be seen’, or to get your company to the top of the list, just opportunities intelligently matched to your business’s capabilities and the people, products and materials that you have available to the broader market. DIAL will bring you curated opportunities that match exactly what you do, so you don’t have to go looking for opportunities – they come to you.

Building the Global Defence Industry Supply Chain

Global Defence Primes can now expand their defence industry supply chains to tap into hidden capabilities, no matter where they are located. New innovative features, such as Pre-qualification, allow Primes to filter thousands of global suppliers down to a manageable number before the expression of interest is released, while simultaneously providing suppliers with feedback on which questions disqualified them so they can take steps to become more competitive.

A new Vault system will allow projects with sensitive information to tender while protecting any sensitive information in the password-protected Vault. This allows all security checks to be completed before companies gain access to the information. All of this exists within a secure environment that passes on sourcing information in a “Need to Know” framework – another example of AI in defence procurement improving both efficiency and safety.

That’s what makes this portal so unique: companies can’t register to see all opportunities from allied nations; it only shows them those that match their capabilities. This provides more international defence collaboration and greater information security for multinational programs compared to traditional methods like email correspondence or manual outreach.

Empowering Australian Defence Innovation Through AusDIP and DIAL

Australian businesses get free access to DIAL through the Australian Defence Industry Portal (AusDIP) on BenchOn. Now is definitely the time to register your business on AusDIP for free and ensure that you are prepared for when DIAL links in other countries and their industries.

For decision-makers and matchmakers, such as government agencies and industry bodies, they will have access to the data insights this innovative new portal will provide, including anonymised reports on the depth of capability across the entire network. This helps identify the true gaps and the risks to major projects. BenchOn is offering all industry bodies involved in linking overseas projects to local businesses free access to the portal. It’s a national security imperative that we are connected, and enabling the industry bodies to do what they do now but on a greater scale and with more efficiency is seen as the right thing to do.

All Defence Primes that have Industry Portals on the BenchOn platform will be automatically linked to the AusDIP and DIAL for free, giving instant access to national and global networks to grow defence industry supply chains. No more talent and product shortages – just a global network to find what you need, when you need it.

BenchOn are looking to talk with:

• Embassies from allied nations who would like to link their country’s industry to the network so we can plan out the release. Initially, DIAL will connect the UK, US and Australian industries together but it was designed to include any allied nation, so let us know if this would benefit your country.

• Industry Bodies that play a role in matchmaking international opportunities to local companies so that we can provide you free access, onboard your members and ensure that all are linked into this global sourcing network.

• Defence Primes managing major projects that want to tap into a global supply chain that meets your requirements when and where you need them. Special discounts are available for Industry Portals that give you full control of your supply chain while also linking you into the global network for free.

Get Connected to Global Defence Industry Innovation

So now is the time to help shape this world changing innovation to meet your needs and ensure that your business is connected to the largest collection of opportunities that has ever been made available to you. All Australian companies should register on AusDIP now in preparation at https://www.benchon.com/ausdip/.

For more information on DIAL, AusDIP or BenchOn portals in general, please contact BenchOn on [email protected] or 1300 0 23624.