Autonomous and uncrewed systems

Building the future of advanced technologies

With more than a quarter of Australia’s industry located here, Queensland is recognised as a leader in the development of autonomous systems and uncrewed platforms. This capability is supported by a growing network of innovative manufacturers, technology developers and defence industry partners.

Industry, research and defence partners are working together to develop, test and manufacture advanced technologies. This includes autonomous systems, guided weapons, hypersonics and other emerging AUKUS Pillar II technologies like countermeasures. Queensland is where innovative technologies can be developed, tested and brought to service.

Existing programs

Queensland is home to Boeing Australia’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat, an uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft and a flagship example of the state's advanced aerospace capability. The Ghost Bat demonstrates the breadth of the state's autonomous and uncrewed systems ecosystem. These capabilities highlight Queensland’s strengths across autonomous systems and create opportunities in advanced manufacturing, defence technology, supply chains and export markets.

Autonomous ecosystem

Queensland’s position as a leader in the development of autonomous and uncrewed systems is no better demonstrated than by the volume of supporting test, trial and evaluation ranges located here.

These include:

• the Australian Institute of Marine Science’s ReefWorks. This tropical marine technology test range offers national capability to safely test marine technologies, uncrewed systems and new sensors in a real-world tropical environment.
• the Queensland Flight Test Range at Cloncurry is a common-user facility developed to support complex trials of uncrewed aerial systems and their payloads.
• the MILTECS (Military Integrated Logistics Test and Evaluation Combat Systems) - a specialised, multi-site testing and training facility operated by EPE in partnership with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). It provides controlled terrain, test labs and uncrewed systems proving grounds to support defence and commercial innovation, field robotics and threat mitigation.

In addition, Australia’s first Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub (ARM Hub) is an AI and technology innovation centre helping Australia’s businesses design, test and deploy advanced technologies.

Many of Queensland’s universities undertake outcome-driven research that underpins advancements in autonomous system capability. For example, QUT’s Centre for Robotics conducts world-leading research in intelligent robots and contributes thought leadership on related policy development.

More information

Find more information on Queensland’s autonomous and uncrewed systems:

• Hypersonix Launch Systems
• MQ-28 Ghost Bat
• AUKUS Pillar II
• Mozzie ’ (small UAS)
• CSIRO’s Robotics and Autonomous Systems group
• ARM Hub
• Australian Institute of Marine Science’s ReefWorks