ASCA invests $6.6M in Australian drone technology

Three Australian companies will each build 100 general purpose Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) under contracts worth a total of $6.6 million awarded under the Sovereign UAS Challenge being managed by Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA).

AMSL Aero, Boresight and Grabba Technologies were each selected following a ‘fly-off’ demonstration of their technology in April. Each company has signed a $2.2 million dollar contract to finalise development of their prototypes to a production standard and produce 100 general purpose UAS. In mid-July Defence awarded two other companies, SYPAQ and  Quantum Systems, contracts worth more than $100 million to develop two Intelligence Surveillance and reconnaissance (IASR) drones following the same ‘fly-off’.

A sovereign drone manufacturing capability will resolve security and supply chain risks associated with some commercial drones, says ASCA, and allow Defence and other government agencies to reap the benefits of scale by achieving higher volumes at lowers costs than currently available.

“ASCA has worked closely with Industry to achieve a desired capability in a short time, proving that we can build a valuable sovereign base if we work together,” said Professor Emily Hilder, Head of ASCA.

“As well as the focus on capability that Defence and other government agencies have demonstrated a need for, this challenge is also focused on how ASCA can use new approaches to accelerate development activities like this and with minimum overhead for engaging SMEs directly.”

The companies, which are based in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland respectively, will use the funds to build up their production capacity, further develop their prototypes to a commercial standard by the end of the year, then produce their first 100 UAS.

The Sovereign UAS Challenge was the first initiative that ASCA launched and signals to industry ASCA’s ability to deliver a more agile, accelerated process to advance innovation for the Australian Defence Force.