NIOA has partnered with Hydrix to deliver critical counter-drone capabilities to the Australian Defence Force. 

The agreement teams Australian-owned NIOA with Hydrix for support on the design and development of electronic fuzing and kinetic effector payload sub-components for integration on small Uncrewed Aerial Systems (sUAS). 

Under the agreement, Hydrix will provide electronic design and development support to NIOA for its telemetry capable Inert Proximity Fuze and Kinetic Effector sUAS payload package. 

This collaboration will include electronic design integration of the payload and sUAS host platform utilising a standardised interface plus the integration of payload proximity sensors and Electronic, Safe Arm & Function (ESAF) device. 

The all-Australian partnership combines NIOA’s expertise in Explosive Ordnance (EO) design, manufacturing and qualification with Hydrix’s role as the electronic designer and integrator of the payload subsystems.  

NIOA Australia-New Zealand CEO Ben James said: “The onboarding of Australian SME partners to support development of critical technologies is an important step towards establishment of sovereign capabilities to accelerate our asymmetric deterrence.

“NIOA is delighted to be partnering with Hydrix to bring our collective experience, capacity and industry knowledge on electronic fuzing and warhead technologies to bear in order to provide the men and women of the ADF with sovereign, battle-ready counter UAS capabilities.” 

Hydrix Executive Chairman Gavin Coote said: “NIOA’s selection of Hydrix demonstrates that our strategy to expand our presence in Australia’s sovereign defence technologies capability is on track.

“The NIOA project builds on our experience in the design, development and integration of critical sub-systems in counter-UAS applications to expand domestic capability.”

With the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East showing how uncrewed aerial systems are increasingly being employed in conflict, the development of sovereign counter-drone solutions and accompanying kinetic effector payloads supporting these solutions are essential to ensure the ADF can deter these threats.
 

From left - NIOA’s Deputy Chief Engineer David Nink and General Manager Engineering Rudi Bekker with Hydrix’s Director of Engineering Andrew Beal and Director Business Development Peter Riddell at Hydrix’s headquarters in Melbourne. The two companies are teaming up to develop key components for counter-drone systems.