The government has announced it will invest $100 million to procure two new small uncrewed aerial systems (SUAS) for the Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
Two different systems, Sypaq System's CorvoX and Quantum-System's Vector 2-in-1, will be delivered from 2025. Defence's partnerships with both Quantum-Systems and Sypaq Systems are expected to create at least 30 highly skilled jobs in Brisbane and Melbourne.
"The delivery of these uncrewed aerial systems in 2025, within a year of project approval, is a significant demonstration of Defence and industry’s strong partnership, and intent to enhance the speed at which we introduce capabilities in support of current and future Defence requirements," said the Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy.
Sypaq System's CorvoX is a small, man-portable, UAS that combines vertical take-off, hover and landing capabilities with a fixed-wing flight mode. It will likely replace the Army's fleet of AeroVironment Wasp IIIs as part of what was formally Project Land 129 Phase 4B - now Project Def 129.
Quantum-System's Vector 2-in-1 is a reconfigurable airframe that can be assembled as either a Vector fixed-wing, vertical take-off and landing, UAS or as a Scorpion multicopter. The system, which has also been selected by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), will likely replace the AeroVironment Puma through Project Land 129 Phase 6 which has also become part of Project Def 129.