Australia’s first locally developed military aircraft in five decades will soon conduct its initial test flights at the top secret Woomera weapons range, as the Albanese government seeks to quell criticism billions of taxpayer dollars are not flowing to domestic firms.

Amid concerns China could be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027, and doubts over the $365 billion nuclear-powered submarine pact, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy declared this term of the Albanese government would focus on ramping up delivery of projects. Its first three years were dominated by a series of high-level reviews.