AVALON 2023: SYPAQ to supply Corvo drones to Ukraine

Melbourne-based SYPAQ Systems is delivering its Corvo™ Precision Payload Delivery System (PPDS) drones to the Ukrainian Armed Forces thanks to investment from the Department of Defence,.

Following the announcement in July 2022 that Defence would be providing further funds to purchase defence technology and equipment for Ukraine, SYPAQ Systems has been manufacturing sovereign Australian autonomous Corvo™ PPDS uncrewed air vehicles for Ukraine.

Developed in Melbourne in partnership with Army and under a $1.1 million Defence Innovation Hub contract, the Corvo PPDS is a low cost, expendable drone for the delivery of supplies and equipment into areas traditional logistics capabilities cannot reach.

“PPDS is an Australian capability that will help the Ukrainian people defend their country, and is proof of the world-leading autonomous systems capabilities in Australian industry,” says CEO Amanda Holt.

“This capability is the result of an innovation journey with Army and the Defence Innovation Hub and demonstrates the importance of collaboration between Defence and industry on capability development.”

“In respect of the cardboard drones, that is a very cool technology, which is seeing service in Ukraine right now, has been developed with the assistance of the government, and we’ll continue to work with the government of Ukraine to see about its ongoing usefulness,” according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, who visited the SYPAQ stand with Ukrainian ambassador His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko.

“This is an example of Australian ingenuity. And… in the context of what has been faced by Ukraine, it has a high degree of value,” said Marles. “But what I love about this is that this is an example of Australian ingenuity on display, being supported by the Australian Government.”

However, Marles declined to say whether or not the ADF would acquire the Corvo PPDS: “Ultimately, that’s a question of the assessment of our own needs, which are clearly different from those of Ukraine. But the fact that we’ve got a technology being developed in Australia, which has use in that theatre, is something we should all feel proud about and helps boost Australia’s strategic weight.”

Also known as the ‘cardboard plane’, the PPDS comes flat-packed and can launch, fly up to 120km and land by itself, providing true autonomy and removing the cognitive load on the soldier during operation.

Following feedback from end-users in Ukraine, the system has also been adapted for iIntelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

PPDS is being manufactured at SYPAQ’s Defence Autonomy Centre of Excellence in Fisherman’s Bend, Melbourne, using components from SYPAQ’s Australian supply chain.