US EditionAustralia pours millions into drone defence amid threat
- On Tuesday, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy announced $30 million in contracts for Australian companies AIM Defence and SYPAQ Systems to develop locally designed counter-drone platforms.
- The Albanese government allocated this funding as part of a $7 billion commitment over the next decade for counter-drone systems, citing lessons from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East where mass-produced drones transformed warfare.
- $21.3 million will fund AIM's Fractl laser system, capable of tracking objects as small as a 10-cent piece and burning through steel, while $10.4 million supports SYPAQ's Corvo Strike interceptor drone designed to track and destroy larger drones.
- Minister Conroy stated the initiative rebalances the cost-benefit ratio in modern warfare, noting nations currently use $3 million missiles to shoot down $100,000 drones; these systems cost tens of thousands and protect Australian personnel.
- Beyond military use, the government intends to deploy these sovereign capabilities to protect domestic infrastructure and major events like the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, forming part of a broader $22 billion plan for autonomous defense technologies.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Star Wars in Australia: Government pledges $7b for drone defence boost
Australia has pledged up to $7 billion in anti-drone systems to bolster its defence capabilities. The federal government is pointing to current conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East as examples of the changing face of warfare, where drones have reshaped the battlefield. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy has touted Australia’s anti-drone defence capabilities as no longer science fiction, saying “Star Wars is happening right now in Australia…
Australia Pledges $7 Billion for Counter Drone Technologies, 2 Contracts Awarded
The government has announced two initial contracts for Australian-made next-generation counter‑drone systems. It also comes alongside a doubling of the budget for procuring the technology and a boost to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) drone warfare. The 2024 Defence Integrated Investment Program (IIP) allocated more than $13 billion to drone capability and $4 billion for counter-drones over the next decade. The 2026 version increases the over…
Sydney Morning Herald
‘Star Wars in Australia’: This anti-drone laser system can hit targets the size of a 10-cent piece
The Australian-made laser system is being put on a fast track for use by the defence force as part of a $7 billion spend on drone-killing technology.
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