The Australian Defence Force is enhancing its sovereign uncrewed aerial system (UAS) capability with the acquisition of more than $1.5 million worth of Australian-manufactured drones. The drones have been developed and manufactured by Australian industry under Defence’s Sovereign UAS Challenge.
In April 2024, AMSL Aero, Boresight and Grabba Technologies demonstrated their technology at a ‘fly-off’ managed by the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator. Each Australian company secured a $2.2 million contract to grow their production capacity, finalise development of their prototypes to a production standard and produce 100 general-purpose drones.
Three hundred units have now been delivered to the Australian Army, completing the final milestone of the challenge. Defence is also acquiring additional units from across the three companies valuing over $1.5 million, with future orders planned.
Small UAS are versatile and cost-effective platforms that provide near-real-time situational awareness at lower altitudes than larger surveillance alternatives. The Australian government will invest $600 million of approved funding into the development and introduction of a range of cutting-edge airborne, surface, and subsurface drone systems over the next 10 years. A further $4-5 billion of unapproved funding has been identified in the 2024 Integrated Investment Program for drone and counter-drone capabilities.
Head Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, Major General Hugh Meggitt: “The modern battlespace and operating environment exemplify the fundamental necessity of UAS capability. The Sovereign UAS Challenge demonstrates ASCA’s ability to accelerate priority capability requirements for the Australian Defence Force. ASCA is enhancing the resilience of our sovereign industrial base. The Sovereign UAS Challenge has enabled and ensures AMSL Aero, Boresight and Grabba Technologies have the production capacity to supply drones at scale, as, if and when required.”
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Hmmmm. Will these drones act as a deterant to the over 1 million chinese ex/current student living in Australia if war breaks out?
What – in case all of those evil students attack us with their pens and pencils? I assume your eagle eye is watching all of the population suspiciously, especially for anyone who looks different.
I suppose you’ve missed the machete attacks of late. It’s not about those that look different. Its about those with different ideology. I don’t feel safe here anymore.
Machete attacks by crazed Chinese students? Please enlighten me.
Aussie Guy unbelievable what planet are you living on you must be on good drugs.
What is the relevance of those in the Pacific theater?
What exactly is the relevance of those tiny, zero range, zero loitering time drones in the Pacific theater
Armies fight wars on land mate, not at sea. That’s the Navy’s job. They are just as relevant for us as for anyone else. The real question is why only 300? That’s about 6 hours worth in the current war in Ukraine.