10 SMEs join Raytheon for unmanned aerial systems

Ten SMEs have joined defence prime Raytheon Australia to bid to provide a sovereign Australian Industry Capability (AIC) to the army in the LAND 129 Phase 3 tactical Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) project.

Raytheon’s solution features a rotary wing UAS and may be based on Schiebel Pacific Limited’s CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS (pictured).

The team, which would be led by Raytheon Australia, includes:

• Schiebel Pacific Limited, Nowra

• Air Affairs Australia, Nowra

• Innovation Composites, Nowra

• MMCLD, Sydney

• Calytrix, Perth

• Penten, Canberra

• Varley, Newcastle

• Sentient Vision, Melbourne

• Rojone, Sydney

• and Thomas Global, Sydney.

Raytheon said its Australia’s solution would provide a superior Australian capability for the army that will support 150 skilled jobs.

The S-100 would be assembled, and parts to be sourced and manufactured, in-country.

The managing director of Raytheon Australia Michael Ward said: “We will deliver a highly capable, flexible and scalable solution that offers the lowest risk and the greatest opportunity for a sovereign UAS capability for Australia.”

Picture: schiebel.net/CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS

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