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The Australian Defence Force Drone Racing Team has successfully defended their sixth consecutive championship title during the Military International Drone Racing Tournament in Sydney.
More than 76 drone pilots from around the world attended two series of military first-person view (FPV) drone racing competition at Randwick Barracks earlier this month, including tactical and racing events.
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Teams included those from the Singaporean Army, Australian Army, Australian cadets, Royal Australian Air Force, the UK Army, UK Royal Navy, the Philippine Army, Canadian Army, Indonesian Air Force, UK Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Navy, Australian Veteran Drone Racing Team, DroneShield, BMS Racing and CubePilot.
Australian Army placed first, followed by the Singaporean Army in second and the Australian Army Cadets in third.
“The Aussies and Brits have already kind of formalised it (drone racing) into a military sport, and for us in the US, we have had no version of that (to date),” US Air Force research labs Team USA leader Major Nicholas Guilbeault said.
“There’s a tonne of benefits to that (collaboration with Australia and the UK), which are great, and then also you can tie it directly to the tactical relevance.
“These FPV drones add another tool to the tool chest … For the Air Force, I’d say more of like a base defence, point defence aspect. The ability to use these as counter-UAS systems.
“In a time when we’re trying to get recruitment and get people interested in joining the military, you show the ability to do something that’s fun and something we’re used to in a gaming sense or a competition sense. And then you can very easily show the next transition down, where you can just serve your country doing something that is not only fun but relevant.
“I think being able to involve like the younger (Australian) cadets here and see that transition through (to military service) is awesome.”
Drones were limited to a five-inch quad drone with a maximum weight of one kilogram.
“The five-member Philippine Army contingent, composed of an officer, two enlisted personnel and two reservists, was invited in the competition as part of the Australian Army’s 125th founding anniversary celebration,” according to a statement from the Philippine Army.
“Competing in high-speed first-person view drone events that tested piloting agility, precision targeting and tactical manoeuvring, the feat highlighted the organisation’s commitment to keeping pace with the rapidly evolving field of drone warfare.
“As unmanned aerial systems continue to play an increasingly critical role beyond the traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, the Philippine Army steadfastly capacitates its regular forces and reserve units in meeting the demands of the fast-changing global security landscape.”
