DroneShield has been selected for the Australian Department of Defence’s Project LAND 156 Line of Effort 3 panel, positioning the company to support Defence’s domestic counter-drone strategy as the threat from small unmanned aerial systems continues to grow.
Announced on 16 January 2026, the selection places DroneShield on the Counter-small Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-sUAS) Services Standing Offer Panel, enabling Defence to procure counter-drone capabilities through selective and limited tender. Under the arrangement, Defence can access hardware, software, command-and-control systems and associated support services under a Capability-as-a-Service model.
The panel provides a pathway for counter-drone services to be deployed across Defence’s approximately 150 bases and installations, as well as other whole-of-government sites, following site-specific assessment and tendering. While panel selection does not guarantee contracts, the framework is intended to streamline procurement and accelerate deployment timelines for domestic security applications.
DroneShield has been selected as a Category 2 C-sUAS solutions provider, joining a small group of suppliers eligible to deliver integrated counter-drone services tailored to Defence requirements. The panel also supports domestic site planning and ongoing operational support.
The selection aligns with broader government investment priorities. Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy has previously stated the government has set aside A$1.3 billion over the next decade for the acquisition of counter-drone capabilities, underscoring the strategic importance of Project LAND 156 and domestic counter-UAS defence.
DroneShield chief executive Oleg Vornik said the company is ready to deliver battle-proven, software-defined counter-drone solutions in support of Defence objectives. Vice president of strategy Air Commodore (Ret’d) Terry Van Haren said the panel arrangement provides Defence and government stakeholders with an opportunity to evaluate and deploy practical, operationally tested systems to protect bases and critical assets against small drone threats.
LAND 156 is a key element of Defence’s approach to countering the rapid proliferation of small drones, particularly in domestic and fixed-site environments where rapid deployment and scalable service models are required.
