Australia looks for more sting in its Wasp replacement
Project Land 129 Phase 4B will find a replacement for the Wasp AE SUAS being used by the Australian Army. (Photo: Gordon Arthur)
The Australian Army wants to introduce a new small UAV within the next 2-3 years.
In July the Capability Acquisition & Sustainment Group (CASG) in Australia gave advance notice for a programme to replace the AeroVironment Wasp AE small unmanned aerial system (SUAS) that is currently in Australian Army service.
The replacement exercise known as Project Land 129 Phase 4B will give army combat teams an independent ISR capability. The new SUAS is to be acquired in FY2023-2024 and FY2025-2026, with around 60-80 systems required depending on cost.
Project Land 129 Phase 4A acquired 66 Wasp AE systems from 2018-2021, but in its notice from CASG stated that the army ‘is expecting a system with
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Helicopters and CUAS set to dominate as Europe advances rearmament efforts]()
Eurosatory 2026: Helicopters and CUAS set to dominate as Europe advances rearmament efforts
The biennial show in Paris will focus heavily on autonomous technology, counter-drone solutions and helicopters, as countries ramp up defence budgets and focus on modernising defence capabilities.
-
![North American appetite for European AEW&C aircraft bolstered as Canada picks GlobalEye]()
North American appetite for European AEW&C aircraft bolstered as Canada picks GlobalEye
Canada’s selection of Saab’s GlobalEye to fulfil its airborne early warning requirements draws the country closer to European industry over American-made platforms, snubbing Boeing and L3Harris.
-
![US Air Force to fast-track capability development for GPS-denied operations]()
US Air Force to fast-track capability development for GPS-denied operations
Over the next 18 months, the air force's research facility intends to accelerate the progress of resilient, autonomous solutions to support aircraft and helicopter deployments in DDIL overland and over-the-water scenarios.
-
![NATO countries test Canadian-made, high-speed “cannibal” drone]()
NATO countries test Canadian-made, high-speed “cannibal” drone
INKAS Anuri CUAS drone has been built to engage consumer, commercial and modified first-person view enemy drones flying at speeds of up to 400 km/h.
