Australia Seeks Counter-Drone Defense for Hunter Frigates

CounterUASWorld Summary

Australia is seeking a close-range counter-drone capability for its future Hunter-class frigates, aiming to protect the vessels against both unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and unmanned surface vessels (USV). The requirement calls for detecting potential threats at ranges of approximately five kilometers and providing a rapid response against hostile targets. While no supplier, technology, or weapon system has been selected, the future solution is expected to integrate with the frigates’ existing combat systems and complement their longer-range air defense capabilities. The program highlights growing concerns over low-cost drone and autonomous surface threats in the maritime domain and reflects the increasing need for layered ship self-defense architectures capable of addressing complex, multi-domain attacks.