Australia seeks sovereignly manufactured general-purpose UAS

The Australian Defence Force (ADF)  is seeking information on small, general-purpose UAS that can be produced at scale.

On 31 July, the ADF issued an RfI for what it termed an Australian Sovereign Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) and Trusted Autonomy Capability.

The Australian-manufactured UAS being sought would be used for various applications free from security limitations and concerns, particularly their internet connectivity.

In the past, the ADF has used commercial UAS from companies such as DJI for activities like training and survey, but around 800 units were banned from flying in May over concerns about Chinese espionage and internet security protocols.

For example, Australian combat camera teams that previously used UAS to catch imagery and footage were not permitted to do so during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023. Other uses for UAS include safe inspection of tall structures like buildings. The RAAF has also used them to inspect the tails of C-17 aircraft, for instance, greatly reducing the time required.

Up to 2,600 such UAS may be in use with other Australian government agencies too. The US DoD removed its DJI-style UAS from service in October 2022.

Small, mass-produced UAS can provide situational awareness down to lower unit levels, allowing ‘militaries to rapidly adapt these systems to new asymmetric applications,’ said the RfI. This is evident in the Ukraine conflict, where soldiers adapt them for reconnaissance or to carry explosives and grenades.

This RfI is an industry engagement activity for the first ever innovation challenge of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA).

The ASCA formally commenced on 1 July, with the office formed directly in response to recommendations from the Defence Strategic Review. ASCA is described as a ‘new and ambitious approach to transitioning game-changing ideas into capabilities’ to give the ADF an advantage.

This future requirement for UAS represents a good opportunity for Australian businesses to create a UAS ecosystem. While the locally developed UAS will be analogous to products currently available from overseas commercial companies, they will be free from security constraints and supply chain vulnerabilities.

The UAS will be flexible and interoperable through open architecture. The ability to manufacture them in Australia means they can be repaired with local spare parts and stocks may be quickly replenished.

Such a capability, as envisioned in this RfI, could kickstart UAS production for both military and civilian use in Australia. Responses to the RfI are due on 21 August.

Elsewhere, following the publication of the Defence Strategic Review, the government has directed the Department of Defence to accelerate development of the MQ-28A Ghost Bathe t UCAV. Boeing Defence Australia has ten MQ-28As currently under contract.

Defence Minister Richard Marles apparently asked for forward options ‘without delay’ and to support the production of Block 2 airframes for the Ghost Bat.

The Wanderer low-cost UAV was rapidly prototyped by the ADF last year. (Photo: ADF)

As an example of Australia’s ability to speedily develop new UAVs, two defence innovation groups had a Wanderer low-cost, expendable UAV flying within two months of its paper design being drawn up last year.

Wg Cdr Paul Hay, director of the RAAF’s Jericho Disruptive Innovation group, commented: ‘These are the kind of timelines we want to get to.’ By early this year, the group had seven combat-ready prototypes, with sensors to be delivered in March.

Hay said that current Australian acquisition models ‘just don’t work for us. We need to move much, much faster.’ The Wanderer with 4m wingspan will cost about A$50,000 ($34,000) each. It has a range of 1,300km and can reach a ceiling of 1,525m with a 2kg payload.

The Wanderer is designed to be runway-independent, and it can be launched from atop a moving vehicle.

In other news relating to Australian UAVs, in April Carbonix signed a A$2.3 million ($1.5 million) contract with Quickstep Holdings that could see a tripling in UAV production. Under a 12-month contract, Quickstep will make 40 next-generation UAVs that succeed the Domani.

Quickstep had already been making Volanti UAVs for Carbonix.

Related Programmes in Defence Insight

General-Purpose UAS [Australia]

Related Equipment in Defence Insight

Wanderer

MQ-28A Ghost Bat