Boeing subsidiary Insitu Pacific has been selected by the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) to supply 24 integrated unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to the Australian Army under a $650 million investment plan designed to meet the requirements of the LAND 129 Phase 3 project. March 11.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton said the integrated unmanned aerial system would provide the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with “enhanced capabilities to gather intelligence, conduct reconnaissance and surveillance missions and acquire weapon system targeting”.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the initial contract period with Insitu Pacific – including the delivery and support of the UAS and associated ground systems and key systems integrator services – will be worth A$307 million. Production has already started, with deliveries expected between 2023 and 2024.
Insitu Pacific will also integrate components from more than 20 Australian suppliers – including Ascent Vision Technologies, Orbital UAV and Nova Systems – and manufacture the Integrator UAS at its main facility in Brisbane, Queensland. Dutton asserts that locally sourced components “will directly support key UAS capabilities for growth and sustainability,” including “sensing and software, advanced materials and propulsion, and seamless integration with existing and planned ADF systems.”
The Ministry of Defence will also invest $56 million to enhance facilities at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane to support the Army’s integrated unmanned aerial systems operations.
Insitu Pacific earlier partnered with Perth-based aerospace company Innovaero to develop the UAS, the former providing common architecture software and ground control solutions to facilitate the development of the latter’s InnovaeroFOX UAS.
InnovaeroFOX UAS is being used in the Ministry of Defence’s AU$1.3 billion ‘Sustainable Development of Maritime Drones’ programme, which aims to enhance situational awareness by purchasing 25-300kg class drones that can be used for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships provide intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition (ISTAR) support.
by Jr Ng
