Innovaero to further develop Owl loitering munition

Perth aeronautical engineering company Innovaero has flagged the acceleration of development of Australia’s first sovereign precision loitering munition capability following a new agreement with the federal government.

The company will move into a third phase in the development of the OWL B precision loitering munition (pictured) with the manufacture, test, and evaluation of the capability to further refine its performance, reliability, and interoperability with existing Australian Defence Force (ADF) assets.

Innovaero Chief Executive Officer Marcus Colman said the new OWL B contract underscored the company’s commitment to establishing a world class, sovereign guided weapons capability.

Colman said: “We’re not just developing a product, we’re establishing a pathway for an entirely Australian-designed, built, and tested capability that can respond to emerging threats with agility and precision.”

The contract award follows a series of live fire tests overseen by the company, Commonwealth agencies and the Australian Army in 2023 and 2024, where the system completed successful flight tests and payload integration.

Coleman said: “This new phase builds on these successful tests and positions us to deliver a combat-ready system that meets the evolving needs of modern warfare.

“This brings us one step closer to getting this world leading capability into the hands of the operator.”

Innovaero designs, develops, manufactures, and certifies sovereign aeronautical products.

The OWL B system, designed to provide a tactical advantage in various operational scenarios, represents a significant advancement in the precision loitering munition technology.

The successful completion of Phase 3 will mark a major milestone for the nation’s defence industry, highlighting the capacity for high-end sovereign military technology development, according to Innovaero.

Picture: Innovaero/OWL B precision loitering munition