Thales Australia has successfully conducted tests integrating Dedrone by Axon’s counter-drone systems with the Bushmaster armored vehicle, demonstrating the platform’s capabilities in modern warfare contexts. The tests were carried out near Thales Australia’s facility in Bendigo, South Australia, and employed simulated battlefield conditions to assess the performance of the enhanced vehicle.
The Dedrone technology is designed to detect, track, and neutralize small, medium, and large hostile drones while the Bushmaster operates in motion, highlighting the vehicle’s adaptability to contemporary threats. The integration of these counter-drone capabilities is part of a broader modernization initiative aimed at upgrading the Bushmaster platform. Besides the counter-drone integration, enhancements include a new digital dashboard, scalable ballistic armor, an increased payload capacity, and an upgraded engine to improve overall performance.
Jeff Connolly, CEO of Thales Australia and New Zealand, emphasized the importance of adapting the Bushmaster vehicle to meet the evolving landscape of warfare, particularly in light of recent conflicts, such as the ongoing situation in Ukraine. He stated that by incorporating insights gained from these conflicts, they are ensuring the Bushmaster is equipped for both current operations and future combat scenarios. Connolly described the upgraded vehicle as a modern platform with advanced capabilities necessary for effective deployment in diverse combat environments.
Dedrone’s systems, which are specially designed for military vehicle integration, can detect over 200 types of drones, including commercial and first-person view models. The components of the counter-drone systems—a ruggedized onboard computing tablet, power supply, and adaptable radio frequency sensors—can be configured in various ways to effectively counter drone swarms and other air threats.
The Bushmaster, a multi-role protected vehicle weighing 17 tons, boasts a substantial payload capacity of over 4 tons and is versatile enough to support a wide range of missions, including troop transport, reconnaissance, and weapons deployment. It has been a crucial asset for the Australian Defence Force and is currently in service with eight other nations, having seen action in operations across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Pacific. The vehicle is designed to accommodate up to 10 personnel while ensuring robust blast and ballistic protection, as well as maintaining off-road mobility, making it a formidable platform in various operational theaters.
