Defence to invest $100m in two Australian UAV manufacturers

Defence will invest over $100 million acquiring 110 ‘drones’ from two Australian manufacturers of lightweight surveillance and reconnaissance Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) and augment the ADF’s existing stock of UASs.

The Quantum-Systems Vector 2-in-1and SYPAQ Systems CorvoX were trialled along with eight other UASs in April in a trial run by the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) and the Army RICO. Defence says they  will enhance ADF force protection and potency capabilities across land and littoral operations by supporting the Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force in confined areas, including small marine craft, and urban environments. Both systems can be deployed as a complement to crewed systems.

The two new SUAS will be delivered in 2025 as Defence continues expediting the acquisition of new drones while continuing to trial low-cost, expendable uncrewed and autonomous systems which are capable of production at scale and able to operate in contested warfighting environments. This approach will add to the more than 20 drone systems already acquired by the ADF including models that have been in service for more than a decade and platforms with multiple payload options.

“The delivery of these uncrewed aerial systems in 2025, within a year of project approval, is a significant demonstration of Defence and industry’s strong partnership, and intent to enhance the speed at which we introduce capabilities in support of current and future Defence requirements,” said Min inter for Defence Industry Pat Conroy.

“With this investment the Albanese Government will grow our defence industrial base, supply chains and create highly skilled, well-paid jobs,” he added.

The 2024 Integrated Investment Program (IIP) includes investment in a range of uncrewed and autonomous systems that can work together and complement crewed systems on a range of missions that will support the strategy of denial, hold potential adversaries at risk and increase the potency of ADF capabilities. Defence says it is investing more than $10 billion on drones, including at least $4.3 billion on uncrewed aerial systems and $690 million on uncrewed tactical systems for Army.