Eleven companies have signed contracts, collectively worth $1.21 million, to produce aerial drones as part of Defence’s Sovereign UAS Challenge, run by the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA).
The contract requires companies to provide a prototype of an uncrewed aerial system (UAS) for demonstration in April, along with a production plan detailing how they would rapidly deliver their drones at scale for potential use by Defence and the Commonwealth.
Small UASs are versatile and cost-effective platforms that provide near-real-time situational awareness at lower altitudes than larger surveillance alternatives, in an expendable and general‑purpose frame. Defence and other Commonwealth agencies use them for training, photography and survey tasks.
Companies including AMSL Aero, Autonomous Technology, Bask Aerospace, Boresight, Crystalaid Manufacture, DefendTex Military Products, Edinburgh Drone Company, Geodrones Australia, Ichor Autonomy, SYPAQ Systems and V-TOL Aerospace have all signed on to develop a prototype UAS and production plan.
“ASCA’s first Innovation Incubation Challenge will support some of our brightest minds in developing sovereign drone technology that can advance the future capabilities of the ADF," said Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry.
“This initiative is another example of how the Albanese Government is getting on with the job of providing the ADF with state-of-the-art technology while supporting the local defence industry, including small and medium sized enterprises.
“Investments in developing small and smart uncrewed aerial systems will not only further a sovereign drone industry, creating highly skilled jobs, but ultimately will increase the operational effectiveness of our military.”