The Australian Defence Force is further expanding its drone and counter-drone capabilities, with the Army set to acquire a new medium-range precision loitering munition system.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the Government was set to announce further counter-drone acquisitions in the near future as part of Land 156, including key contracts for a Systems Integration Partner for the continuous delivery of counter drone capability.
He said this would include a command-and-control capability plus additional advanced counter-drone sensors and effectors, giving the ADF more options to protect Australian defence bases.
In an address to the Queensland Media Club Minister Conroy rejected suggestions from some commentators that Australia was lagging in its acquisition of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and counter-UAS capabilities.
He said the government had set aside $1.3 billion for acquisition of counter-drone capabilities over the next 10 years.
Three companies - AMSL Aero, Grabba Technologies and Boresight –recently delivered 300 drones to the Army with future orders planned.
“It was just over 12 months ago that these three companies secured contracts worth $2.2 million each to grow their production capacity, finalise development of their prototypes to a production standard and produce 100 general-purpose drones. Another example of the speed with which are now working in this space,” he said.
“Now, these are small drones that are versatile and cost-effective platforms that provide near-real-time situational awareness at lower altitudes than larger surveillance alternatives.
“Last year, I announced we had acquired the Switchblade 300 precision loitering munition, providing a critical combat edge and adding to drone capabilities available to the ADF, and adding to our arsenal of drones, including those capable of being armed.
“Soon, we will also announce a new capability for the Army – a sovereign medium-range precision loitering munition system - developed under ASCA’s Mission Talon Strike.”
Conroy said he was now announcing further rapid delivery of counter-drone capabilities under Project Land 156.
He said that in July, just four months after the announcement of Project Land 156, the Government issued an initial rolling wave of contracts worth $16.9 million.
“Since then, we have issued more contracts, now totalling $38.7 million dollars to 20 vendors, including 14 Australian companies,” he said.
“Under those contracts, and accelerated testing, at least 120 of the world’s most capable threat detectors and drone-defeating technologies will be rapidly introduced into use. The technology is evolving rapidly … and we are moving with it.”
Conroy said under Land 156, Defence had adopted a continuous modernisation model.
“This is critical. It means that the investments we make today, and continue to make, can help protect against potential future threats,” he said
“This is not just about defence bases and defence assets. Under Land 156, there is also a minimum interoperability requirement to enable Defence counter-drone capabilities to be deployed to assist civil society.
“This means the ADF counter-drone capabilities would be able to be used as events such as the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.”
The Minister said the Ukraine conflict had demonstrated a 3–6-month cycle of adaptation and counter adaptation.
“So, through Project Land 156, the ADF will continually upgrade and refresh capabilities to address emerging drone threats,” he said.
“This is a rolling effort, which means the investment doesn’t stop, the technology development cycle doesn’t stop, and Australian defence industry has the security of policy and funding to keep developing this technology.”
Conroy said Australia had three priceless assets in the uncrewed capability race.
“We have the smart scientists at Defence Science and Technology Group – including their partners in the Queensland Defence Science Alliance – to deliver the next generation of technologies for loitering munitions,” he said.
“We have the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, now sitting in the Defence delivery engine-room, with a laser-focus on accelerating the development of asymmetric capabilities and getting them into the hands of our warfighters.
“And we have AUKUS Pillar II – our advanced capability partnership with the United Kingdom and the United States.”
As an example, during Exercise Talisman Sabre, the AUKUS partners worked together to successfully communicate with uncrewed underwater vehicles as part of the Maritime Big Play exercise series.
“Communicating underwater is no easy feat. Handing over communication and control of an underwater drone in Australia, to a partner on the other side of the world, the United Kingdom, is even harder,” he said.
The Minister said you did not have to look far to find critics of how Defence does business and some of that criticism was justified.
“And I acknowledge there is more work to be done to make Defence the best customer it can be for industry,” he said.