The CEO of an Australian company that builds rifle-like devices that force drones out of the sky says investors should overcome ethical concerns and get behind the defence industry because rising global tensions mean World War III is likely in our lifetimes.

Oleg Vornik, chief executive of ASX-listed DroneShield added that although his drone guns don’t hurt people or even the flying robots they bring down, Australia needs to be as self-reliant as possible, which meant building a strong private defence industry.