DroneShield added to Defence counter-drone panel

Sydney-based counter-drone technology company DroneShield has been selected as a supplier to Defence’s Project LAND 156, which aims to address the evolving threats to domestic security posed by small drones.

The company has been included in Line of Effort 3 of the project, which establishes a Counter-small Unmanned Aerial Systems (C‍-‍sUAS) Services Standing Offer Panel for procurement of hardware, software and support services aimed at protecting around 150 Defence bases and installations and other critical government sites. DroneShield’s selection as a Category 2 C-sUAS solutions provider on the Panel allows for Defence to procure hardware, software, Command-and-Control software (C2), and all associated support services under a Capability-as-a-Service (CaaS) model. DroneShield is one of a number of parties selected as a provider on the Panel.

While selection on the panel does not guarantee contracts, the arrangement enables Defence to procure counter-drone solutions as a service after suitable assessment. This will increase the company’s chances of securing lucrative Defence supply deals.

The federal government has allocated $1.3 billion towards the acquisition of counter-drone capabilities over the next 10 years.

DroneShield CEO Oleg Vornik said the company “welcome[s] the opportunity to support Defence through this Panel arrangement and stand ready to deliver battle-proven, software-defined C-sUAS solutions.”

Vice president for strategy retired Air Commander Terry Van Haren added that the growing threat from small drones demands practical, tested solutions to safeguard critical assets.

“We encourage government and Defence stakeholders to take advantage of this Panel arrangement to experience DroneShield’s proven capabilities in domestic security,” he said.

Image: DroneShield’s DroneSentry rapidly deployable fixed-site CUAS solution. Supplied.