One of the country’s top commanders has delivered a stark warning at a military parade in Townsville, declaring Australia’s army is being prepared for war.

The announcement comes as defence experts warn the nation can no longer depend on the United States, prompting local manufacturers to answer the call for Australian-made military technology.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Australia prepares for war amid defence capability concerns

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Among the innovations is the Ocius Bluebottle, a remarkable unmanned vessel less than eight metres long that’s completely wind, wave and solar-powered. The craft can silently hunt submarines for six months at a time, dragging sonar cables deep into the water.

“We don’t need any crew and we don’t need any fuel and it doesn’t need any food and it doesn’t get tired,” said Robert Dane from Ocius Technology.

The world-leading technology has navies lining up to buy them, with Australia securing 55 to patrol our waters.

The company’s proudest feature? “We’re 100 per cent [an] Australian company, 100 per cent Australian design,” Dane said.

Australia is currently in an arms race amid a global threat environment unparalleled in decades. Last Friday, Major General Ash Collingburn told troops at a military parade in Townsville: “Make no mistake, I am preparing our expeditionary division for war.”

But some experts are concerned about Australia’s readiness.

“Are we ready for that? That’s kind of debatable, I would say,” said former RAAF fighter pilot turned defence consultant Peter Robinson.

Robinson says Australia has modern, expensive, complex kit, but not much of it.

“How long could we independently sustain those sort of operations? I think that’s questionable,” he said.

Despite having the 15th largest military budget in the world, Australia ranks 71st in personnel, 57th on naval vessels, 31st on aircraft and 82nd on artillery pieces. The army’s 60 field guns wouldn’t last more than a day-and-a-half in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Robinson said.

There are also fears of sovereign risk, with at least 50 per cent of defence assets foreign-made and almost every aircraft American.

The reality is our defence strategy places so much dependence on the United States, but after their questionable support of Ukraine and even the NATO alliance, there are now uncertainties about just how reliable our key partner has become.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy insists Australia can have both.

“We can have self-reliance within the alliance,” he said.

This month the federal government launched a new strategy to back Australian-made defence equipment.

“Australians absolutely can step up,” Dane said.

But even that comes with a warning. The new Hunter-class future frigate costs $1.4 billion in England, but four times as much when built here.