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Highlights

  • DroneShield to invest AUD 13 million over three years in a new R&D facility in Adelaide.
  • The facility will create around 20 highly skilled engineering roles in radiofrequency and electronic warfare disciplines.
  • The company surpasses 400 employees globally, reflecting a major milestone in its international growth.

DroneShield Limited (ASX:DRO), a global provider of counter-drone and electronic warfare solutions, has announced plans to establish a new R&D facility in Adelaide, South Australia. The company will invest AUD 13 million over a three-year period to support the setup, including operational and capital expenditure. The initiative aligns with DroneShield’s strategy to enhance its engineering and technology capabilities while contributing to South Australia’s defence industry ecosystem.

The facility will focus on the advanced radiofrequency and electronic warfare technologies development. It is expected to create approximately 20 specialist engineering roles in Adelaide. These roles will contribute to the design and integration of next-generation defence systems.

Strategic Location and Workforce Expansion

Adelaide was selected for the expansion due to its established defence and aerospace sector, skilled engineering workforce, and supportive infrastructure for advanced technology development. The city’s ecosystem in electronic warfare and radiofrequency technology offers an ideal environment for DroneShield’s continued innovation.

The South Australian research and development hub will complement DroneShield’s existing operations in Sydney and will play a key role in accelerating the company’s technology roadmap. The new site will be led by Jeff Wojtiuk, an engineering specialist with more than two decades of experience in radiofrequency design, electronic warfare, and systems engineering. Wojtiuk previously held senior roles with Lockheed Martin Australia and has contributed to major defence programs involving radar and communications systems.

The facility is scheduled to be fully operational by March 2026. The company views the expansion as an important step in enhancing collaboration with defence and industry partners across the region.

Global Growth and Increased Production Capacity

The establishment of the Adelaide R&D facility coincides with significant global growth for DroneShield. The company recently surpassed 400 employees worldwide, marking nearly double its workforce from the previous year and more than four times its size two years ago. Around 300 of these employees are technical specialists in hardware and software engineering. DroneShield currently has about 100 additional positions open, reflecting ongoing recruitment to support its development targets.

In parallel, DroneShield is expanding its manufacturing footprint across Sydney, Europe, and the United States. Its production capacity is expected to increase from approximately AUD 500 million to AUD 2.4 billion annually by the end of 2026. The company is also increasing its R&D presence internationally, particularly in the United States, to support the growing demand for counter-drone technologies across defence and security markets.

While specific revenue contributions from the Adelaide facility have not been forecast, DroneShield expects the investment to be materially significant over time.

DRO shares were trading 3.50% higher at AUD 6.51 per share at the time of writing on 7 October 2025.