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Western Australian company UXMachines and The University of Western Australia have been awarded $190,000 through a Defence and Research Teaming program designed to promote early warning drone detection.
The project is investigating how low-cost optical sensor networks can detect and track drones, and aims to reduce potential aerial threats to Australia’s Defence personnel, infrastructure and critical assets.
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As drone technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, so too must the early warning systems and counter-drone technologies.
The program – End-to-end meshed network of low SAaP-C optical sensor nodes to provide early warning capability to vital assets from UAS threats – was selected for funding through the 2025–26 DaRT grant round. This is a competitive funding process administered by Defence West’s Defence Science Centre.
The DaRT program serves to foster collaboration between Defence, industry and research organisations to develop innovative solutions to Australia’s defence and security challenges.
“Over the next decade, defence is set to become Western Australia’s second largest industry, helping us remain the strongest economy in the nation and the best place in the world to get a quality job,” Premier Roger Cook said.
“This project strengthens our sovereign defence capability and supports our priority to make more things right here in WA.
“As drone technology evolves, advanced detection and early-warning systems are becoming critical.
“This grant recognises the expertise we have in WA and the role our state can play in tackling emerging defence challenges.”
By supporting multidisciplinary and collaborative partnerships, the WA-focused DaRT grant helps accelerate innovative research with the potential to strengthen Defence capability, improve situational awareness and enhance the protection of Australia’s critical assets.
“The Cook Labor government wants to support our local defence industries to have the opportunity to make more things right here in WA,” said Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Industries Amber-Jade Sanderson,
“This funding is for a unique project that explores new approaches to protecting Defence personnel, infrastructure and strategic assets.
“This is an example of an innovative project that will help ensure WA is at the forefront of defence innovation.”
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