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The Australian-designed and operated Phoenix Jet uncrewed aerial target has completed 500 successful flights, according to defence technology company QinetiQ.
The milestone was reached during a live-fire trial at Woomera, South Australia.
Despite remote and challenging conditions, the QinetiQ team successfully launched multiple Phoenix targets on time, enabling Australian Army Air Defence to attain strategic test and evaluation certification criteria.
The Phoenix Jet is designed, built and sustained at QinetiQ’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Nowra, NSW, home to a workforce of more than 150 employees, supported by 43 Australian suppliers.
Each Phoenix is engineered, integrated and subject to testing at QinetiQ’s Nowra facilities to ensure compliance and quality prior to delivery.
Originally developed as a research and development project for the Australian Army Air Defence 16th Regiment, the Phoenix has evolved into a cutting-edge aerial target system, capable of supporting land, air and maritime trials.
Operated by a sovereign Australian team, the Phoenix can fly either autonomously or via a remote pilot, providing advanced threat representation, test and evaluation and mission rehearsal to the Australian Defence Force and allied partners across the Asia-Pacific region.
The Phoenix is also a successful Australian export, with 24 systems delivered internationally. This includes three to the New Zealand Navy, three to the Royal Thai Navy, 18 to the Republic of Korea Navy, with a further nine systems to be delivered in 2025.
The Phoenix continues to increase military readiness, operating in South Africa since 2017 for the Royal Singapore Air Force and in Germany for their armed forces.
“Reaching 500 successful flights with the Phoenix Jet is a proud moment for QinetiQ and a clear demonstration of the sovereign capability we deliver every day,” QinetiQ Australia interim chief executive officer Corry Neale said.
“This milestone reflects the strength of our local workforce, our investment in Australian innovation and our commitment to delivering reliable, mission-ready solutions to our customers that enhance operational readiness and national security.”
According to QinetiQ, the 500th flight milestone reflects alignment to the National Defence Strategy and the Defence Industry Development Strategy, which call for stronger sovereign capability, resilient supply chains and improved readiness in a more contested strategic environment.
