DroneShield opens Adelaide R&D facility to expand Australian counter-drone development

# What happened DroneShield has opened a research and development facility in Adelaide. The new hub adds dedicated software development and dry laboratory facilities to the company's Australian R&D network and was officially opened with the participation of South Australia's Minister for Defence and Space Industries, the Honourable Chris Picton.

# Why it matters The facility targets work across embedded systems, advanced sensing, communications, software and electronic warfare (EW). DroneShield says the hub will support development of next-generation counter-drone and EW technologies designed to address current and emerging operational requirements. That work responds to a market where more complex drone threats are increasing demand for faster technology development across sensing, EW and counter-uncrewed aerial system capabilities.

# What the company and government said DroneShield chief executive Angus Bean: "Adelaide has established itself as one of Australia's leading centres for defence and advanced technology innovation. Opening our Adelaide office strengthens our ability to access exceptional engineering talent and further expand our Australian research and development capabilities."

South Australian Minister for State Development and Minister for Defence and Space Industries, the Honourable Chris Picton, attended the opening and framed the hub as a vote of confidence in the state's defence industry. The minister said the facility will create highly skilled jobs, boost local innovation and strengthen national defence capabilities.

# Facility specifics

• Location: within one of Adelaide's nationally recognised innovation precincts.
• Facilities: dedicated software development space and dry laboratory capability for engineers working on embedded systems, sensing, communications, software and EW.
• Relationship to other operations: complements DroneShield's Australian R&D operations in Sydney and further expands national engineering capacity.

# Strategic context Adelaide is positioned as a growing centre for sovereign defence technology development and advanced engineering. DroneShield's investment aims to improve access to engineering talent in that market and speed development of counter-drone and EW systems. The expansion aligns with broader industry trends toward layered counter-UAS solutions and faster iteration to meet evolving threats.

# Local economic and workforce effects The company and the minister framed the hub in terms of job creation and local innovation. DroneShield expects the Adelaide team to contribute to ongoing product development while helping attract and retain highly skilled engineering talent in South Australia's technology and defence ecosystem.

# What comes next The Adelaide team will work on technologies across sensing, EW, communications and software to address contemporary and emerging operational requirements. The facility is presented as part of an overall effort to accelerate development timelines and enhance DroneShield's capability to deliver layered counter-drone solutions.

# Bottom line The new Adelaide R&D facility expands DroneShield's domestic research footprint, adds specialised development and laboratory capacity, and positions the company to draw on Adelaide's engineering talent pool while supporting faster response to complex drone threats.