Defence buys Cray supercomputer

Greg Combet, minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, has secured a new Cray supercomputer for the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD).

Combet signs the supercomputer
(Credit: Department of Defence)

DSD is responsible for foreign signals intelligence and is the Commonwealth's authority on information, communications and computer security.

"The new supercomputer delivered by Cray Inc supports DSD's signals intelligence and cyber-security missions. It also supports the White Paper goal of providing more and faster intelligence support and assists in the response to cyber incidents and threats," Combet said in a statement.

The government had made a commitment in its Defence White Paper released last year to upgrade its cyber-security capabilities, he said.

"Intelligence is fundamental to the security of our deployed forces and to wider government in protecting Australia against external threats such as terrorism," he said.

At the time of publication, the Department of Defence was unable to say how much the computer had cost, or what speeds it was capable of.

Defence has recently been hiring heavily in the area of cyber security.