The Australian army is set to acquire 24 unmanned surveillance drones in an AU$650 million (US$477 million) deal with Boeing’s Insitu Pacific.
The “Integrator” drones will be manufactured locally in Brisbane while using suppliers from across the state of Queensland.
The move is the latest in a series of defence-focused announcements by the federal government amid ongoing tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton said the drones would perform intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, and acquire targets for weapons systems.
“To support the delivery of this capability, the Morrison government will also invest AU$56 million in facilities at Gallipoli Barracks in Enoggera,” he added. “We will also see an upgrade to a number of our Bushmasters, and associated sustainment over the next decade.”
Dutton said 80 percent of the $650 million would be devoted to Australian suppliers and technology.
Liberal MP for Brisbane, Trevor Evans, said the investment will grow local advanced manufacturing jobs.
“This contract is supporting 130 new and existing jobs here in Brisbane and across Australia,” he said.
“People may not have always associated Brisbane with defence industry in the past, but projects like this demonstrate the real opportunities advanced manufacturing can offer now and into the future.”
Production has already commenced, with delivery expected in 2023 and 2024.
The build-up will see personnel numbers swell from the current active force of 59,095 to around 80,000 by 2040, far above the 12,500 additional troops recommended last year by the Department of Defence.
The eventual total number, when counting defence employees and public servants, will be closer to 101,000.
The government will invest AU$38 billion (US$27.8 billion) into the expansion and will see the defence department embark on a recruitment drive to man Australia’s incoming nuclear-powered submarine program, cyber warfare operations, intelligence, electronic warfare, “long-range fires” capabilities, and a rapidly expanding naval fleet—including the Royal Australian Navy’s Hunter-class frigates and Arafura-class patrol vessels.
“Our world is becoming increasingly uncertain so it’s important we take steps now to protect our people and our national interest over the coming decades,” Morrison said.
