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Western Australia-based Innovaero has officially unveiled two new variants of the OWL family of loitering munitions, including a new, lightweight, low-cost variant.
The Perth-based company also introduced the first test demonstrator of its OWL X variant. In addition, Innovaero has launched the OWL A – a mid-weight variant that packs a 1.5-kilogram warhead, can travel up to 45 kilometres, and is equipped with a full suite of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
Marcus Colman, chief executive officer of Innovaero, said the expansion of the OWL family underscores the company’s commitment to establishing a world-class, sovereign guided weapons capability in Western Australia.
“Global conflicts continue to highlight the crucial role of autonomous systems and precision loitering munitions,” Colman said. “Building on the success of the OWL B program, our decision to expand a wider family of loitering munitions offers customers a comprehensive suite of capabilities and represents a major milestone for our nation’s defence industry.
“With the launch of the OWL X test demonstrator and development underway for the OWL A, Innovaero is rapidly establishing a sovereign capability for loitering munitions that will outperform any rival in the world.”
The development of the OWL B system aligns with the Commonwealth’s drive for increased sovereign guided weapons and explosive ordnance capabilities, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign military technologies. OWL B has already undergone an extensive series of live-fire tests, overseen by the company, Commonwealth agencies and the Australian Army, with the system successfully completing flight trials and payload integration.
“Our progress with OWL B exemplifies the potential of Australian innovation in the defence sector,” Colman said. “This brings us one step closer to getting this world-leading capability into the hands of our operators.”
Innovaero designs, develops, manufactures and certifies sovereign aeronautical products in Australia. “We’re not just developing a product – we’re establishing a pathway for an entirely Australian-designed, built and tested capability that can respond to emerging threats with agility and precision,” Colman added.
