Avalon News in Brief 27 March 2025

Hanwha and GME sign teaming agreement for Defence communications programs: Building on the MoU signed at the 2024 MilCIS conference, GME, Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA) and Hanwha Systems have signed a teaming agreement at the Avalon Air Show 2025 this week. Based on the body of work outlined in the MoU and now completed, the three companies have agreed to work together to respond to the Australian Government’s upcoming LAND 4140 program for the Australian Defence Force. Land C4I Modernisation Project (LAND 4140) is establishing several key functions within the Land Command, Control, Communications and Computers (Land C4I) environment to support the delivery of the next generation of Land C4I capability. “GME is a rapidly expanding Australian business with strong links into both civil and military C4 programs in Australia and internationally, so working with them towards a solution for LAND4140 is the best path forward,” HDA Acting Managing Direct Dean Michie said. With HDA set to act as the prime with the support of its sister company, Hanwha Systems, working with GME for the hardware side of the project leverages a sophisticated Australian manufacturing company. Building on the experience of South Korea’s Army TIGER program, Hanwha is applying tactical 5G and Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communications (LEO Satcom) technologies to enhance battlefield connectivity and interoperability. “This cooperation will be an important stepping stone in enhancing Australia’s self-defence capabilities and promoting long-term cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Australia,” Hanwha Systems Head of C4I&Land Business Department, Mr Sungkyun ‘Danny’ Park said. Airbus partners with Drone Forge to advance Flexrotor in Asia Pacific: Australian aerospace start-up Drone Forge and Airbus have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to collaborate on the deployment and operational integration of the Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system. This agreement, which includes the acquisition of Flexrotor systems, marks a critical step toward transforming uncrewed aviation with game-changing solutions and technologies tailored for tactical operations. “This agreement outlines a shared commitment to explore opportunities for implementing innovative Flexrotor technologies in the region. Designed as a force multiplier for diverse missions in defence and security applications, this partnership signals strong confidence in our Flexrotor capabilities and offers perfect crewed-uncrewed teaming possibilities for aircraft operators,” said William Sampson, Vice President/Head, Market Operations of Airbus Helicopters. As part of Drone Forge’s portfolio expansion, the company has established a UAS service centre in Perth, Western Australia, to provide training, maintenance and support services for a range of UAS including the Flexrotor. The Flexrotor, is Airbus’ newest addition to its UAS portfolio. A modern Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft with a maximum launch weight of 25 kg (55 lbs), it has been designed for ISTAR missions for more than 12-14 hours in a typical operational configuration. It can integrate different types of payloads including an electro-optical system and advanced sensors to suit customers’ unique mission needs. With the ability to autonomously launch and recover from either land or sea requiring only a 3.7 by 3.7 m (12 by 12 ft.) area, the Flexrotor is ideal for expeditionary missions requiring minimal footprint. Through the support of the US Department of Defence (DoD), and contracted deployment in a variety of maritime security exercises, the Flexrotor is a mission-proven, force multiplier for operations in harsh, high-threat, GPS-denied environments. DroneShield launches UAS incident platform: DroneShield announced the launch of its UAS Incident platform, a powerful new tool designed to provide DroneShield customers with comprehensive insights by sector into drone-related incidents worldwide. The UAS Incident platform aggregates and analyses open-source data, offering real-time intelligence on drone activities, security breaches, and emerging drone threats. This unique platform enables customers to track, assess, and respond to drone-related risks more effectively by leveraging a continuously updated repository of incidents. It also enables clients to conduct their own analysis on emerging trends, specific to their safety and security risk profile. “Our new UAS Incident platform is a game-changer for both our military and civilian customers alike,” said Oleg Vornik, CEO and Managing Director at DroneShield. “With drone incidents on the rise globally, access to timely and relevant data is critical for organisations to enhance their security posture and stay ahead of potential drone threats. The UAS Incident platform helps to deliver exactly that.” The UAS Incident platform is available to DroneShield customers through the Customer Portal, and complements the company’s suite of industry-leading counter-drone solutions. Through the platform, users can filter incidents by region, sector and impact By integrating the latest intelligence on drone threats, the UAS Incident platform strengthens situational awareness and supports informed decision-making in an increasingly complex airspace environment. Hanwha Defence Australia, Visionary Machines and Hanwha Systems sign MoU: Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA), Visionary Machines, an Australian SME leader in high-fidelity passive 3D spatial sensing for autonomy, inspection and surveillance, and Hanwha Systems Corporation have signed an MoU to explore collaborative development opportunities. The agreement will focus on Visionary Machines working with the two arms of Hanwha to assess and potentially integrate their world leading technology into Hanwha systems and platforms. These technologies will initially examine supporting or enabling technology for autonomy, counter unmanned aerial systems, and enhanced situational awareness. “By blending the best of Australian and South Korean technologies and approaches, we want to build strategic resilience for supply chains and innovative approaches in both nations,” HDA Managing Director Dean Michie said. “Between our own experience, what our sister company Hanwha Systems brings to the table, and the capability offered by Visionary Machines, I am confident that this R&D opportunity will be a marvellous opportunity for all involved.” The three companies bring together a range of capabilities including: Military vehicle design and systems integration; Design and development of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence systems (C4I), and Electronic Architectures for Australian military programs; Experience with Australian Defence Force requirements and standards; Defence electronics and ICT smart solutions with specialisation in aerospace, defence, and ICT, offering solutions for military and civilian applications, including satellite technology, avionics, and surveillance systems; Development of directed energy effectors and command, control, and communication systems for Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) capabilities; Specialisation in passive optical vision and sensing systems; Advanced capabilities in augmented vision systems and drone tracking; Proficiency in generating 3D point clouds and providing dimensional data through passive sensors. 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