iscover
Sydney counter-drone developer DroneShield has announced it will invest more than $13 million over three years to establish a new counter-drone research and development facility in Adelaide.
It’s understood that the new facility will be led by former Lockheed Martin Australia defence engineering leader Jeff Wojtiuk, with a strong background in RF design and electronic warfare.
This expansion in South Australia is concurrent with DroneShield’s Sydney, European, and US manufacturing initiatives, against the backdrop of record global demand and surging drone attacks
“South Australia is recognised as a national leader in defence and space industries, with Adelaide home to a highly skilled and experienced workforce. Establishing our first R&D office in Australia outside of our Sydney Headquarters, in Adelaide, is a strategic move that supports DroneShield’s mission to deliver world-leading counter-drone and EW solutions,” DroneShield chief executive Oleg Vornik said.
“DroneShield’s growth to 400 employees globally, with the majority of our team being engineers, reflects our commitment to deep technical capability and delivery.”
The $13 million investment is a direct contribution to South Australia’s economy, covering three years of operational and capital expenditure.
It will initially create around 20 high-skilled engineering roles in Adelaide, focused on radio frequency electronics, EW and systems integration.
The South Australian expansion complements DroneShield’s existing engineering operations in Sydney and supports the company’s continued growth in advanced RF electronics and EW capabilities.
Adelaide has been chosen due to its proximity to leading global defence and aerospace organisations, a highly skilled engineering workforce, and established infrastructure supporting advanced technology development, particularly in EW and RF systems.
The announcement comes as DroneShield reached a significant company milestone, this week surpassing 400 employees globally, nearly doubling its team in the past year and more than quadrupling it over the last two years.
Approximately 300 of these employees are software and hardware engineers, reinforcing DroneShield’s position as a world-leading technology company focused on delivering advanced defence capabilities.
DroneShield also has around 100 open roles, reflecting its commitment to delivering on its technology roadmap and supporting customers and allies with speed and scale.
“DroneShield’s new R&D facility in Adelaide marks a significant step forward in our commitment to ensuring our technology roadmap is being supported by the best engineering minds nationally,” DroneShield chief product and technology officer Angus Bean said.
“Our new facility is critical to accelerating the development of our next-generation counter-drone and EW technologies, while expanding our engineering footprint and supporting critical project development for global customers.”
