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The Albanese government is ramping up its investment in cutting-edge drone and counter-drone technologies to enhance the protection of Australian Defence Force personnel and assets, amid the growing complexity of modern conflict.
Just four months after the announcement of Project LAND 156, the government has issued an initial $16.9 million wave of contracts to 11 vendors, including five Australian companies, to accelerate the delivery of counter-drone capabilities to the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
The contracts mark the first step in a rolling acquisition program aimed at rapidly deploying over 120 advanced threat detectors and drone-defeating systems into service, following rigorous testing and evaluation. These systems will provide a crucial layer of protection for defence bases, deployed forces and critical infrastructure.
Further announcements are expected in the coming months, including contracts to deliver a dedicated command-and-control system, as well as additional counter-drone sensors and effectors to bolster ADF defences against aerial threats.
Project LAND 156 is structured as a rolling, iterative program that will continually update and upgrade capabilities to keep pace with evolving drone threats. It is supported by $58 million in research, development and prototyping investment made by the Albanese government over the past three years.
The initiative is being further supported by the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator through Mission Syracuse, which is focused on developing the next generation of systems to defeat medium-sized drones and drone swarms, a rapidly emerging challenge on future battlefields.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said the rapid pace of delivery demonstrates the growing agility of both Defence and local industry, “We have accelerated the acquisition of an appropriate mix of drone capabilities to suit Australia’s environment of military interest and are continuing to examine new autonomous capabilities.”
Over the next decade, the government is investing more than $10 billion in drone technologies, including at least $4.3 billion earmarked for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). This investment will not only bolster ADF capability but also drive growth in Australia’s sovereign defence industry.
Local defence innovators, including Droneshield, SYPAQ Systems, AMSL Aero, Grabba Technologies and Boresight, are already playing a key role in delivering advanced solutions and securing skilled jobs for Australian workers.
These efforts will complement existing in-service UAS platforms such as the Black Hornet, PUMA, Wasp, Skylark and R70 Skyranger, alongside newer systems being introduced, including the Switchblade 300, Insitu Pacific Integrator and Quantum Systems Vector.
The ADF already fields a broad suite of uncrewed aerial systems, including armed drones, with additional capabilities under assessment during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 to fast-track operational deployment.
Minister Conroy added, “The Australian government knows drone and counter-drone technology will continue to evolve rapidly. The delivery of cutting-edge drones and counter-drone technology shows the increasing speed at which Defence and industry are able to deliver new capabilities to the ADF.”
This latest round of contracts is a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to building a resilient, sovereign defence industrial base while equipping the ADF with the tools it needs to face rapidly evolving threats.
“Australian industry is critical to delivering this technology and they are demonstrating world-leading innovation while creating Australian jobs,” Minister Conroy said.
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