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Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy MP has formally announced the winner of the AU$45.6 million systems integration partner contract to support the AU$1.3 billion LAND 156 counter-drone capability program.
Defence Connect can officially reveal that Leidos Australia has been selected as the systems integration partner for LAND 156, in a contract worth AU$45.6 million six months following the establishment of the program.
As part of this contract, Leidos Australia will deliver and evolve the ADF’s Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft System capability as part of the government’s efforts to “continuously deliver” counter-drone capabilities to the ADF.
This will address the increasing threat of drones in modern warfare and will support the ADF’s current and future operational requirements and enhance responsiveness to emerging drone threats.
Minister Conroy said, “This project is both a benchmark and a blueprint for how we continue to deliver speed to capability. The structure of Project LAND 156 will ensure Australia stays ahead of the evolution cycle in relation to counter-drone technology, giving the ADF the capabilities it needs.”
The overwhelming majority of the work under Project LAND 156 will be delivered by Australian companies, supporting over 160 Australian jobs and creating up to 80 new jobs. The open architecture approach to the project means more companies can be integrated in the future, providing for more opportunities for the Australian supply chain.
In addition to this, the investment will accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technologies. Under this project, the Australian Army will undertake an initial rapid demonstration of a minimum viable counter-drone capability by December 2025, which will include:
- An Australian command and control capability – the Cortex Command and Control System, developed by Acacia Systems.
- An Australian effector system, delivered by EOS Defence Systems.
- An Australian sensor system, delivered by Department 13.
- Additional sensor and effector systems.
- Services including systems integration and capability assurance, which will be delivered in Australia by Australians.
Minister Conroy added, “Counter-drone technology is critical to keeping our ADF members safe, and that’s why the government is ensuring our soldiers, sailors and aviators are provided with the best technology to protect them.”
The LAND 156 program aims to rapidly procure and deploy counter-small uncrewed aerial systems – essentially forming a layered, scalable system to detect, track, identify and neutralise small hostile drones (up to ~24 kilograms or NATO Classes 1–2).
As part of the AU$1.3 billion LAND 156 program, contracts worth nearly AU$39 million have already been awarded to 20 vendors, 14 of them Australian. Local firms are also playing a key role. Queensland companies AMSL Aero, Grabba Technologies and Boresight recently delivered 300 general-purpose drones to the Army, following contracts awarded only last year.
In a coinciding statement made to the ASX, EOS chief executive officer Dr Andreas Schwer confirmed that the contract would likely involve their Slinger counter-drone remote weapon system.
“The initial award to Leidos Australia is expected to give rise to orders for small-batch evaluation quantities of EOS products, including the Slinger counter-drone remote weapon system,” Schwer said.
“Following an initial phase of evaluation and system design work, the award has the potential to lead to further orders of EOS counter-drone products in the future, with the potential to benefit EOS revenue from 2026 onwards.
“EOS welcomes this opportunity and the investment it represents in the Australian defence manufacturing industry.”
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
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