Defence to invest up to $7 billion in C-UAS capabilities

Defence says it will more than double investment in C-UAS capabilities for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with up to $7 billion now allocated under the Integrated Investment Program (IIP) over the next decade. As part of the major boost in investment, it has announced two initial contracts, worth $31.7 million in total, for Australian-made C-UAS platforms.

The investment is part of the Government’s plan under the 2026 National Defence Strategy (NDS) to spend significantly more on UAS and C-UAS platforms over the decade.

The development of sovereign counter-drone solutions is essential to ensure the ADF can detect, assess and respond to these threats, says Defence. Two years ago Pat Conroy, the Minister for Defence Industry, announced the single biggest Contract for Australian drone manufacturers at the time, about $100 million for Brisbane-based Quantum Systems and for SYPAQ to provide UASs for Ukraine.

“If you talk to anyone who’s seen the conflict in Ukraine, the technology development cycle is moving at incredible rapidity,” Conroy said, “So you need to invest and you need to keep investing in spiral development.

“The development of sovereign counter-drone solutions is essential to ensure the Australian Defence Force can detect, assess and respond to these threats,” he continued.

The initial contracts of $21.3 million to AIM Defence and $10.4 million to SYPAQ Systems, both in Melbourne, have been awarded through the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s (ASCA) Mission Syracuse.

“Mission Syracuse will exploit Australian industry’s world leading expertise in kinetic and directed energy to find, fix, track, target and engage Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs),” said MAJGEN Hugh Meggitt, Head of ASCA. “It will significantly enhance the ADF’s ability to counter the threat posed by UAVs employed by malicious actors; domestically and abroad.”

This contract will enable AIM Defence to further enhance the capability and combat readiness of its high-powered C-UAS laser system, Fractl, to counter individual UASs and swarms of UASs. This portable high energy laser system is capable of tracking objects as small as a 10-cent piece at more than 100kph and powerful enough to burn through steel, says Defence.

“Over the last five years AIM has worked closely with the innovation arm of Australian Defence to build a best-in-class laser capability,” said Jae Daniel, AIM co-founder and co-CEO. “This includes contracts with Jericho, RICO and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation. Over this time we have iterated and refined our technology with the warfighter in mind, and I can confidently say we have developed something that is best in class.”

SYPAQ Systems will develop the Corvo Strike, a 100% Australian interceptor drone. It is a quadcopter design with a warhead and is big and fast enough to track, target and destroy some larger drones such as the Iranian-developed Shaheed now commonly employed on battlefields. Conroy said also that Corvo Strike will be significantly less expensive than the UASs it is sent to intercept and destroy.

“Working with ASCA through Mission Syracuse, SYPAQ is developing the next generation of our Corvo family of autonomous systems,” said Ms Amanda Holt CEO of SYPAQ. “Together we will deliver Corvo Strike, an interceptor drone and loitering munition capable of attacking air, ground, littoral and riverine threats which we’ve developed through our operationally proven capabilities currently deployed in battle spaces such as the Ukraine.”

Project Syracuse is really the flagship for ASCA, said Conroy. “This is about really moving at speed to get equipment into the warfighters’ hands to protect Australians. Project Syracuse is all about moving at speed, challenging the Australian industry to find solutions to help the ADF. Last year we went to market in the middle of the year and had 140 companies express interest in providing solutions.” 

ASCA will also facilitate the integration of these systems into the ADF’s existing Command and Control (C2) system being delivered under Project LAND156 and for which Leidos Australia is prime contractor. Project LAND156 plans to acquire the two capabilities once they are developed and proven, but the department has not disclosed purchase contract values and fleet sizes.

While Australia’s unique geography has driven a focus on larger drones, Defence says the Government’s efforts under Mission Syracuse will accelerate the deployment of advanced capabilities designed to counter medium‑sized drones and swarms of small drones that our personnel could encounter in complex operational environments abroad or while protecting people and infrastructure domestically.

The Australian Government has allocated up to $22 billion for drone, counter-drone and autonomous system technologies over the decade in the IIP.