Australia is a World Leader in Counter-Drone Tech Because We Think Globally
This article originally appeared in The Australian.
Written by Oleg Vornik, Chief Executive Officer at DroneShield.
When we started DroneShield over a decade ago, drones were barely on the radar, both literally and figuratively. From a small, bootstrapped office in Sydney with just five staff, we set out with a clear mission: to build a sovereign Australian counter-drone capability that would support the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and our allies. It was a big vision at a time when few recognised the scale of the threat to come.
Today, in 2025, that foresight has proven essential. DroneShield now has around 27,000 mum-and-dad-investors and a team of 330 people, with plans to reach 400 by the end of the year. We recently secured a record AUD$61.6 million order from a European customer, the largest in the company’s history. This milestone is not just a commercial success. It is a sign that Australian defence technology can continue to lead globally when it is given the right foundation and long-term support.
For Australian companies to compete and win, exports must be part of the strategy. In 2024, 91 per cent of DroneShield’s revenue came from overseas customers. That might surprise some, but it should be seen as a strength. Export revenue allows DroneShield to invest heavily in research and development, scale local production, and create high-skill jobs in Sydney. Our domestic customers benefit directly from this, through access to cutting-edge capabilities built to meet the most demanding global standards.
Image: DroneShield’s current in-house product assembly facility
At DroneShield, we also understand that effective defence is not built on isolated tools but on integrated systems. Because of our global footprint, we have become a world leader in combining multiple counter-drone technologies into layered solutions. From radar and optical detection, through to soft and hard-kill effectors, DroneShield brings together the best available technologies into cohesive, responsive platforms. This is what modern defence requires and what makes our solutions both effective and adaptable.
Despite our global growth, we remain deeply committed to Australia. Our headquarters, our engineering teams, our manufacturing lines, and our vision are all rooted here. We are proud to support the ADF and will always be ready to stand alongside them and our allies. But to ensure our forces have access to the best capabilities, the Australian Government must continue to support Australian companies that think beyond the domestic market. That support needs to include long-term contracts that demonstrate we are a trusted partner to the Australian Government.
DroneShield’s journey shows what is possible when Australian innovation is paired with a global outlook. We have grown from a niche start-up into a trusted partner for some of the world’s most advanced militaries. That success was made possible by long-term vision, persistence, and the belief that Australia can not only participate in this space, but can lead it.
Now is the time to double down. If we genuinely want to build a sovereign defence capability that is world-class, the Australian Government must support the companies that are already showing what is possible.