Anduril Australia announce partnership with Royal Australian Air Force to trial air defence assets

Air defence capabilities capable of countering drones are being installed at RAAF Base Darwin as part of the Australian Defence Force’s effort to harden the nation’s northern bases. See the technology.

Anduril will be trialling new air defence kit at RAAF Base Darwin, including the Long Range Sentry Tower (pictured). Picture: Supplied.

Air defence assets capable of countering drones are being installed in Darwin as part of the Australian Defence Force’s effort to harden the nation’s northern bases.

Technology company Anduril has revealed it signed a $30 million, three-year trial with the Royal Australian Air Force, which will allow the company to prove its counter-drone and counter-intrusion capabilities at RAAF Base Darwin.

The announcement comes as weaponised drones continue to inflict casualties in conflicts abroad.

An image purporting to show a Russian drone attack on a Ukrainian armoured vehicle in the Kursk region. Source: Russian Defence Ministry

In the Ukraine-Russian conflict, “drone swarming” technology, involving large-scale, long range drone attacks, has forced commanders on both sides to reconsider the disposition of their ground forces.

In the Middle East, drone attacks in the Israel-Gaza conflict have also increased in number and complexity.

An Ukrainian serviceman attaches a hand grenade on a drone to use in an attack, near Bachmut, in the region of Donbas. Picture: Aris Messinis.

With the company’s air defence assets currently operating in the aforementioned theatres and beyond, Anduril Australia chief executive David Goodrich said his company’s technology was prepared for modern day combat.

“Current conflicts have shown us how rapidly warfare has developed,” he said.

“It is critical that advanced technology is in place to protect ADF personnel and equipment against air and ground attacks – now and into the future.”

“Our capability-as-a-service approach is designed to anticipate and respond to rapid technological developments.”

Anduril’s EW capability, Pulsar, will also have a role on RAAF Base Darwin. Picture: Supplied.

The exact technology which will be installed at RAAF Base Darwin includes the Long Range Sentry Tower, equipped with an ultra high-powered, 360 radar capable of tracking up to three drone threats simultaneously.

Anduril will also install Pulsar – a family of software-defined electromagnetic warfare (EW) systems, capable of jamming threats.

Both assets, powered by software platform Lattice, can be integrated in Anduril’s ‘family of systems’ approach, which encompasses active and passive sensors, and kinetic and non-kinetic effectors.

Anduril’s kinetic element – Anvil – represents the pointy end of counter drone defence, involving a UAV of its own which can intercept drones at a speed in excess of 300km/h.

It is understood Anvil will not be used during the trial phase.

Mr Goodrich says Anduril’s software technology allows more timely upgrades. Picture: Supplied.

Being software driven, hardware enabled capabilities, Anduril’s assets can be continually updated as threats evolve.

“Hardware and software are regularly updated and upgraded as new developments are available,” Mr Goodrich said.

“This is different to the traditional block upgrade process used in Defence where upgrades may only happen annually or even less frequently.”

A RAAF spokesperson said the 24/7 counter drone protection would strengthen Australia’s north.

“The National Defence Strategy prioritises strengthening of our northern bases,” they said.

“This system will bring advanced technology to counter and deter intrusion of RAAF Base Darwin while building Defence’s understanding of emerging capabilities that can help the ADF to meet future threats.”

Originally published as Anduril Australia announce partnership with Royal Australian Air Force to trial air defence assets