How many missiles does it take to change a military?

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a hypersonic missile travelling 25 times the speed of sound.

A historic review into Australia's defence force found it wasn't ready to tackle a more aggressive China, pointing to the need for new, long-range and guided missiles if the nation is to stand a chance at deterring a threat.

The defence strategic review also outlined the importance of developing hypersonic and counter-hypersonic technologies with the second pillar of the AUKUS alliance with the UK and US bringing the technology into the tent.

A hypersonic missile at full throttle at 25 times the speed of sound could travel the distance between mainland China and Darwin in under nine minutes. 

Defence Minister Richard Marles says the technology will be critical for Australia, as is the need for the nation to increase its strike range. 

"What we need to do is have within our capabilities ... a projection which is measured in hundreds of kilometres, not tens of kilometres," he told AAP.

"Hypersonics and counter hypersonics will be a critical technology of the future. It's important that we are at the leading edge of that."

The government hasn't put a timeframe on acquisition given the developmental nature of the technology. 

But it has since put some $3.4 billion towards next-generation defence technology research.

The former coalition government signed a deal with the US to develop hypersonic cruise missiles in November 2021, just months after the AUKUS partnership was made public. 

However the cost and timeline were equally elusive as they are 18 months later. 

The government is also working to increase the military's mobility so that longer-range missiles can be deployed further from shore but even this increased 500km strike capability is barely able to hit East Timor from Darwin. 

But the strategic review isn't all about missiles and submarines. 

The importance of statecraft and regional relationships was also pointed out as the government works to boost Pacific relationships and ties in southeast Asia. 

Australia is looking to net a defence agreement with Papua New Guinea, with negotiations slated to be wrapped up in April and signed in June. 

The historic visit to Port Moresby by the UK foreign secretary, and the scheduled visit of US President Joe Biden in May, have also renewed focus on Australia's closest northern neighbour. 

China's Pacific envoy is also rumoured to be travelling to PNG in coming weeks. 

Trade routes and supply chains are also in focus with the government announcing millions to shore up fuel supply and storage at northern Australian bases. 

With a significant portion of Australia's maritime trade going through the South China Sea, and strategic fuel reserves being held in the US, there's concern China could move to block supply lines during a potential conflict. 

Beijing is also working with Kiribati on the feasibility of upgrading a strategic airstrip used as a US air force base in World War II - although it maintains it would be for commercial use only.

The island that hosts the airstrip is directly between the US west coast and Australia. 

"It's very important that we are thinking about fuel reserves, that we're thinking about them in the context of our national security," Mr Marles said.

"It goes down to the micro in making sure we have the ability to have appropriate fuel, like actual fuel storage at the bare bases and the bases in the north (of Australia)."

Fuel isn't the only thing being shored up, with the trade minister heading to China in the coming weeks to smooth over the trading relationship with Beijing. 

But with the defence review also outlining the role of both the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in securing Australia's economic prosperity alongside the defence force, Don Farrell has been working to diversify the nation's trade dependence. 

Senator Farrell recently return from a trip to Vietnam and the Philippines as Australia looks towards southeast Asia for stronger economic ties. 

Not wanting to poke the panda, Australia insists its military shake-up is about maintaining peace, just as China maintains its military expansion is about self defence.

As a delicate peace continues in the Indo-Pacific, Australia's new defence strategy is positioning itself to both submerge and swim.