DroneShield wins AUD $5 million deal for ADF counter-drone tech

DroneShield has been awarded approximately AUD $5 million to supply handheld counter-drone systems to the Australian Defence Force under Project LAND 156.

The contract is part of a wider AUD $16.9 million government initiative involving several suppliers, including five Australian companies, to accelerate the development of counter-drone technology for the nation's military.

According to details released by the Department of Defence, DroneShield's contract will see the company deliver portable drone detection and defeat equipment to provide support to Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel in the identification and neutralisation of unmanned aerial system threats.

This procurement aligns with the Commonwealth's broader objective of expanding its counter-drone capability in response to evolving operational requirements.

The equipment supplied by DroneShield is expected to assist the ADF in operational settings by addressing the increasing risks posed by unmanned aerial systems in both training and deployment environments.

The government's funding is being disbursed among 11 vendors, with DroneShield receiving one of the largest single company allocations. The initiative aims to enhance industry partnerships and fast-track the integration of these technologies into defence operations.

Industry and Defence Collaboration

Australian industry is critical to delivering this technology, and they are demonstrating world leading innovation while creating Australian jobs.

This statement was made by Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry, when commenting on the announcements relating to the initial LAND 156 contract awards.

DroneShield, in addition to supplying hardware, has also indicated its readiness to act as Systems Integration Partner for the wider LAND 156 programme. The company's stated capabilities include sensor fusion, electronic warfare, and command-and-control integration.

Oleg Vornik, Chief Executive of DroneShield, said, "We welcome the opportunity to support the Australian Defence Force through Project LAND 156. This contract reflects the growing operational need for portable counter-drone capabilities and DroneShield's continued role in delivering solutions aligned with Defence requirements."

The company reaffirmed its commitment to deliver the contracted equipment to the ADF as per agreed timelines and project provisions.

Programme Goals

Project LAND 156 is one component of a wider set of Commonwealth efforts aiming to quickly enhance the ADF's preparedness to encounter unmanned systems in various operational theatres. The multi-vendor acquisition programme spreads financial resources across a number of local and international suppliers, with the expectation of fostering competition and speeding up delivery of new technologies.

The portable counter-drone systems to be provided are designed to be user-friendly for personnel in the field and capable of being integrated with broader sensor and electronic warfare architectures, as suggested in the company's statements.

DroneShield's role as a potential Systems Integration Partner under the broader programme would involve assistance with the development of scalable and interoperable architectures for counter-drone operations, in alignment with the Defence Force's longer-term plans.

The ADF has made continual investments in electronic and counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) capabilities over the past few years, with rising concern about the hazards posed by commercially available and modified drones during both peacetime and conflict operations.

Details of the delivery schedule and specific equipment covered under the contract have not been disclosed at this stage. The government and participating companies have outlined that contract fulfilment will proceed in accordance with agreed project plans and regulatory requirements.