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The defence contractor has been tapped to deliver uncrewed capability to the Australian Army.
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Defence has awarded a contract to Elbit Systems of Australia (ELSA) for the supply of small uncrewed aerial systems (SUAS) and maintenance services to the Australian Army.
Specifically, ELSA has been tasked with delivering its Skylark I-LEX SUAS+ — a bespoke system designed for Australian Defence Force and civilian support in disaster and humanitarian relief operations.
The Skylark I-LEX is designed to provide tactical day and night ISR via a payload to operators on the ground at a range of up to 40 kilometres.
The contract, awarded by Army Reserve Unit 9 Regiment, also includes delivery and support of mission systems, with sustainment support options until 2030.
The work would be supported by ELSA’s security and IT transformation, with the company recently becoming an Australian sovereign subsidiary of global defence prime Elbit Systems Ltd.
ELSA’s managing director, Major General (ret’d) Paul McLachlan AO CSC, said the platform would enhance the Army’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability.
“This contract is great news for Elbit Systems of Australia as we gain momentum by broadening our offering to the ADF, as well as growth of our uncrewed and autonomous system capability being developed and used in country,” McLachlan said.
“Our Skylark I-LEX SUAS+ will reduce the risk to both Army and civilian personnel when operating in hazardous environments because of its superior intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.”
He added the SUAS capability could be enhanced by research and development (R&D) projects undertaken at ELSA’s Centre of Excellence for Human-Machine Teaming in Melbourne — established in partnership with the Victorian government.
The projects leverage human-machine teaming, artificial intelligence, drones and robotics for defence, emergency management and homeland security.
ELSA’s Skylark I-LEX SUAS contract follows a competitive tender process, which included preview test and evaluation activities.
The Skylark has been deployed by a number of NATO forces over the past decades, with variants like the 18-hour endurance Skylark 3 Hybrid also selected by a number of international customers, including Israel, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, South Korea, Hungary, and Poland.
ELSA is the latest defence company to secure a SUAS contract with the Department of Defence.
Earlier this month, the Department of Defence awarded a $26.9 million contract to XTEK Limited for the delivery of a mixed fleet of advanced AeroVironment drones over the second half of the 2023 financial year (FY23).
[Related: Defence taps XTEK for SUAS delivery]
