The Perth-based aeronautical engineering company has upgraded its OWL B precision loitering munition with new guidance capabilities, as well as unveiling the first test demonstrator of the OWL X variant.
Innovaero has also introduced the OWL A, a mid-weight variant which incorporates a 1.5kg warhead, a capability to travel 45km and a full suite of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
Marcus Colman, Chief Executive Officer, Innovaero, said expanding the OWL family underscored the Company’s commitment to establishing a world class, sovereign guided weapons capability based in Western Australia.
“Global conflicts continue to highlight the crucial role of autonomous systems and precision loitering munitions,” Mr Colman said.
“Building on the success of the OWL B program, our decision to expand a wider family of loitering munitions offers the customer a full suite of capabilities and is a major milestone for the nation's defence industry.
“With the addition of the OWL X test demonstrator and development work now underway for OWL A, Innovaero is fast establishing a sovereign capability for loitering munitions that will outperform any rival capability in the world.
The OWL B system development aligns with the Commonwealth’s push for greater sovereign guided weapons and explosive ordnance capabilities and reduced reliance on foreign military technologies.
OWL B has been the focus of an exhaustive series of live fire tests overseen by the Company, Commonwealth agencies and the Australian Army, where the system completed successful flight tests and payload integration.
"Our progress with OWL B exemplifies the potential of Australian innovation in the defence sector," Mr Colman said.
The Company's work on upgrading OWL B underscores its commitment to enhancing Australia's defence capabilities through innovative, sovereign solutions.
“This brings us one step closer to getting this world leading capability into the hands of the operator,” Mr Colman said.
Innovaero designs, develops, manufactures, and certifies sovereign aeronautical products in Australia.
"We're not just developing a product, we're establishing a pathway for an entirely Australian-designed, built, and tested capability that can respond to emerging threats with agility and precision,” Mr Colman said.