Australia set for Wasp infestation
Australia is investing A$101 million (US$75 million) in AeroVironment Wasp AE UAVs, with this money allocated for the first of two tranches to be acquired through the Canberra-based firm XTEK.
Minister of Defence Marise Payne announced the plan on 1 June, saying the 1.3kg UAVs would ‘provide our military with a faster and better understanding of the battlefield than our adversaries’.
It was announced in April 2016 that the Wasp AE was selected as the preferred tenderer for Project Land 129 Phase 4 (Supply and Support of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems).
Payne said the first tranche would be delivered as
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