New drones for ADF under $10bn ‘unmanned plan’

The Australian Defence Force will get $140m worth of new surveillance and reconnaissance drones as the Albanese government accelerates Defence’s adoption of unmanned systems.

An Australian-made Sypaq CorvoX tactical drone.

The Australian Defence Force will get $140m worth of new ­surveillance and reconnaissance drones as the Albanese government accelerates Defence’s adoption of unmanned systems.

Australian company Sypaq and Germany’s Quantum Systems will supply a combined 110 small tactical drones to the army and air force by next year, along with training and four years of maintenance.

The program will also support the selection of future drone capabilities to ensure the ADF is not left with obsolescent models.

The two unarmed drones – Sypaq’s CorvoX drone and Quantum Systems’ Vector – are both fixed-wing, tilt-rotor models that take off and land vertically but fly like conventional aircraft.

Sypaq’s contract is believed to be the biggest so far between the ADF and a local manufacturer, and follows the government’s ­donation of a cardboard version of the Corvo drone to Ukraine.

Defence industry Minister Pat Conroy, who last week announced the ADF would get its first armed drone, said the new surveillance models would protect troops by allowing them to collect intelligence and accurately locate targets for attack without exposing them to enemy fire.

The procurements are part of a decade-long $10bn plan to boost the ADF’s unmanned capabilities after years of under-investment. “This government is committed to matching its rhetoric with actions, unlike the former government,” Mr Conroy said.

“Whether it’s in Ukraine or other recent conflicts, drones are changing the battlefield every day. And that’s why it’s so important to support the Australian Defence Force with the latest capability.

German company Quantum Systems' Vector fixed-wing drone. Picture: Supplied

“We have put aside real resources to give the ADF the best possible drone capability. And we are supporting Australian companies to deliver those drones and produce a future made in Australia.”

Defence’s Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator is also working with local drone companies to develop future models for consideration by the ADF.

Strategic Analysis Australia research chief Marcus Hellyer said it appeared Defence was “finally realising the advantages of the small, the smart and the many”.

Dr Hellyer said the investment in the Sypaq drone represented significant progress for Australian industry, after years of taxpayer support for select drone companies that were overlooked for major contracts. “It’s good to see money flowing into an Australian SME that is more than a few million dollars for research and development,” he said.

The government last week announced the purchase of an undisclosed number of Switchblade 300 drones for the army that can deliver a grenade-size warhead over distances of about 20km.