SYPAQ officially opens the Defence Autonomy Centre of Excellence

Melbourne-based SYPAQ Systems has officially opened its new Defence Autonomy Centre of Excellence (DACE). Announced in June last year, the DACE has been established with direct support from the Victorian Government and aims to make Fisherman’s Bend a hub for innovation and manufacturing of small autonomous systems for defence Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).

The facility is forecast to create 280 new jobs over the next five years and generate an additional $45 million of annual expenditure when fully realised.

As part of the opening event, Victorian Minister for Industry Support and Recovery and Minister for Business Precincts Martin Pakula witnessed a demonstration of SYPAQ’s Corvo™ product line in the DACE’s indoor flight test facility.

Speaking after the event, SYPAQ CEO Amanda Holt said, “The capabilities our team is developing in the Fisherman’s Bend precinct are genuinely world leading, and we’re proud to continue to grow our team in Australia’s aviation heritage precinct.”

SYPAQ’s General Manager – Innovation and Strategic Programs, Michael Partridge, said, “The support shown by the Victorian Government has allowed SYPAQ to further invest in our own innovation and R&D programs, and is enabling us to compete against international primes for defence contracts.”

In March, SYPAQ submitted its response to the Land 129 Phase 4B Request for Tender, proposing the CorvoX as a man-portable small unmanned aerial system (SUAS) for the Australian Army.