DroneShield wins US defence contracts as global sales top 4,000 units
DroneShield has secured two new contracts worth AUD $7.9 million with the US Department of Defence for the delivery of handheld drone-detection systems, as the company surpasses 4,000 systems sold globally.
The agreements cover handheld systems, including Australian-manufactured RfPatrols, which are part of DroneShield's broader portfolio. The company's solutions span dismounted, vehicle-mounted, and fixed-site counter-drone systems, combining multiple sensors and effectors through advanced software integration to create a layered defence architecture. This capability enables operators to detect, track, identify, and defeat hostile drones in operational environments.
DroneShield expects all equipment covered under the contracts to be delivered in the final quarter of 2025, with cash payment also anticipated in the same period. The company stated that there are no additional material conditions attached to the contracts and no obligation for further purchases from the customer at this time.
DroneShield has received standalone orders from the US Department of Defence previously. The latest contracts follow ongoing deployments of the company's systems under Department of Defence programmes, reinforcing DroneShield's position in the counter-drone sector.
"Passing 4,000 systems in service is an important milestone for our team and our customers," said Matt McCrann, U.S. CEO of DroneShield. "It underlines the performance and dependability of our solutions in the field, and the trust placed in DroneShield by those who rely on them."
The company's handheld RfPatrol is a passive, lightweight, and user-friendly device, intended to provide real-time alerts to the presence of drones without the need for specialist training or complex setup. Regular firmware updates, including AI enhancements delivered quarterly to customers enrolled in the company's SaaS-based software plans, form part of the product offering.
Production and supply chain
The RfPatrol units supplied under these contracts are produced through an Australian contract manufacturing partner, following rigorous in-house quality assurance testing. DroneShield reports that around 85 per cent of the device's components are sourced from manufacturers distributed across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia.
RfPatrol has already featured in several high-profile deployments, including the company's record AUD $61.6 million contract in Europe in mid-2025, a recent AUD $5 million order under the Australian Government's Land 156 Line of Effort 2 programme, and an AUD $10.4 million contract to supply Ukraine in 2023, being part of Australia's counter-drone aid package.
International expansion
DroneShield has outlined plans for US and European-manufactured versions of the RfPatrol to be available in their respective markets starting in 2026. The company anticipates that local production will help to further support international sales growth in these key regions.
Reflecting on the company's sales figures, DroneShield highlighted record revenue growth in the first half of the year. The company reported a 210% increase in revenue for the first half of 2025, reaching AUD $72.3 million. Profit before tax for the period amounted to AUD $5.2 million.
DroneShield reported that recognised revenue for the third quarter of 2025 is currently AUD $77 million, a figure that already surpasses the total of the previous two record quarters combined. The company indicated that additional deliveries and revenue are expected prior to the end of September, with final quarterly revenue and cash receipt figures to be released as part of its third quarter investor report.
DroneShield CEO, Oleg Vornik, commented, "As our customers seek to step up from their early small-scale evaluation purchases into full scale procurement, we are seeing rapidly rising customer demand. Counterdrone is still at its nascency with our customers requiring very significant additional purchases to progress to the required levels of counterdrone defence. DroneShield is a well-regarded industry leader globally, and we expect to continue to benefit from this rising demand."
The company expects to fulfil the entirety of the new US Department of Defence orders within 30 days from existing stock, a factor DroneShield regards as significant for its customers' urgent operational requirements and an important aspect of sustaining further orders in the future.
DroneShield remains focused on advancing its current technology and developing next-generation counter-drone solutions, leveraging export success and its domestic manufacturing base to support continued growth in the sector.
