DroneShield Limited has announced it will invest $13 million over three years to establish a new research and development (R&D) facility in Adelaide, South Australia, as part of the company’s continued global expansion in counter-drone and electronic warfare (EW) technology.
According to an ASX announcement, the investment will directly contribute to South Australia’s economy through operational and capital expenditure and will initially create around 20 high-skilled engineering roles in Adelaide.
These roles will focus on radiofrequency (RF) electronics, EW, and systems integration to support DroneShield’s mission of delivering advanced defence technologies.
DroneShield Chief Executive Oleg Vornik said that the new facility represents a strategic step in expanding the company’s Australian engineering presence.
“South Australia is recognised as a national leader in defence and space industries, with Adelaide home to a highly skilled and experienced workforce,” Vornik said.
“Establishing our first R&D office in Australia outside of our Sydney Headquarters – in Adelaide – is a strategic move that supports DroneShield’s mission to deliver world-leading counter-drone and EW solutions. DroneShield’s growth to 400 employees globally – with the majority of our team being engineers – reflects our commitment to deep technical capability and delivery.”
As outlined in the company’s announcement, the Adelaide facility will be led by Jeff Wojtiuk, a former Lockheed Martin Australia defence engineering leader with more than two decades of experience in RF design, EW, and complex systems integration.
DroneShield said Wojtiuk’s expertise would guide the technical direction of the new site, which is expected to be fully operational by March 2026.
DroneShield Chief Product and Technology Officer Angus Bean said the new facility underscores the company’s commitment to advancing its technology roadmap and expanding its engineering capability.
“DroneShield’s new R&D facility in Adelaide marks a significant step forward in our commitment to ensuring our technology roadmap is being supported by the best engineering minds nationally,” Bean said.
“Our new facility is critical to accelerating the development of our next-generation counter-drone and EW technologies, while expanding our engineering footprint and supporting critical project development for global customers.”
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas welcomed DroneShield’s investment, stating that the decision reflects the state’s strong position as a leader in defence and advanced manufacturing.
“South Australia is the Defence State, and has been recognised by the Business Council as the best place in the country to do business,” Malinauskas said.
“We welcome DroneShield making the choice to conduct research and development here in Adelaide, creating 20 highly skilled engineering roles. As a Government, we have a strong focus on growing our Research and Development ecosystem, which has the capacity to build our economic complexity and our state’s prosperity.”
As reported, the new facility complements DroneShield’s existing engineering operations in Sydney and supports its continued expansion in Europe and the United States.
The company also noted that it recently surpassed 400 employees globally—nearly doubling its workforce in the past year and more than quadrupling it over the past two years.
DroneShield said the expansion comes amid record global demand for counter-drone solutions and the increasing importance of EW capabilities in defence and security operations.
The content of this article is based on information supplied by DroneShield Limited. For more information, please refer to the official company announcement and communications from DroneShield. Please consult a licensed and/or registered professional in this area before making any decisions based on the content of this article.
