Billing the initiative as a "national first", Hunter Defence chair Tim Owen said the program had been five months in the making.

"It prepares SMEs to contract into defence either as a sub contractor to the major Primes but also in their own right, and it takes them everywhere from tendering to quality management systems you need," Mr Owen said.

He said Hunter Defence, a collaborative group that includes the Hunter Business Chamber and HunterNet and industry players, would run the course over 11 days over the next 12 months leading up to the 2020 Hunter Defence Conference.

"We are also looking to get federal government certification of the course," he said, adding the program would be launched in the Hunter but also likely be run across regional NSW.

In its 10^th edition, the Hunter Defence Conference is on at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley on August 22-23, with former federal defence minister Christopher Pyne confirmed as a keynote speaker.

It is being touted as a "must-attend" meeting for regional SMES who are vying to break into the lucrative defence supply chain or grow their market in the industry.

"It is squarely aimed at linking Primes and regional SMEs in terms of global supply chain opportunities and advising manufacturers and suppliers how they can ensure they are 'defence ready'," Mr Owen said.

Mr Owen said the 10^th edition would be unique.

"We have the political side, representatives from defence Primes, defence export office, industry leaders and the capability development staff from the navy, army and airforce," he said. "That means there will be those who decide the equipment that is needed for the armed forces, those who acquire defence industry products and those who maintain it, and it's the first time we have that 'end to end' process articulated for regional industry."

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