Australian Army awards Skylark contract for SUAS+
The Australian Army has ordered a number of Skylark I-LEX hand-launched SUAV+ aircraft. (Photo: Elbit Systems)
Elbit Systems is a beneficiary of an Australian SUAS+ contract, which the ADF will use to support civilian operations for disaster and humanitarian relief.
The Australian Army has procured Skylark I-LEX small UAVs according to a press release issued by Elbit Systems on 7 December.
These UAVs, numbering eight systems in total, will ‘enable Australian Defence Force (ADF) support to civilian operations for disaster and humanitarian relief,’ the Israeli OEM stated.
For this purpose, Australia specified that the Skylark I-LEX aircraft be fitted with an EO sensor and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) system.
ADS-B provides real-time precision and shared situational awareness to pilots and air traffic controllers. Thus, the Skylarks can more safely fly in wider classes of airspace, something very useful in a disaster
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