DroneShield Limited (ASX:DRO) has been granted the first exemption permit of its kind to undertake advanced testing of the company’s Electronic Warfare and counterdrone portfolio in Australia via the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
The exemption from the Australian Federal Government regulator has appropriate safeguards in place to balance the need to develop and test advanced technologies in Australia, while maintaining restrictions around impact on the broader community.
The exemption has been granted under the Radiocommunications (Exemption) Determination 2021, passed as law by the ACMA earlier this year, to enable development of advanced electronic warfare technologies for use by authorised Government agencies in Australia and for approved exports., “This change in law and the resulting permit, demonstrate the rapid responsiveness of the Australian Federal Government and ACMA, who have been appreciative of rapid change of the technological landscape in modern warfare and counter-terrorism,” DroneShield CEO, Oleg Vornik, said.
“The Government agencies understood the resulting need for legislative amendments, and were fast moving in the implementation, despite current challenging times.
“This permit substantially accelerates the development and optimisation of advanced Artificial Intelligence-powered electronic warfare and counter-terrorism technologies here in Australia, and we are excited to rapidly move forward in undertaking the work, at DroneShield and University of Technology Sydney (UTS) facilities.
“I’m particularly excited at the direct increase this decision will mean for domestic advanced manufacturing jobs and the acceleration it means for DroneShield’s technology base as part of Australia’s Sovereign Defence Industry Capability.”
Mr Vornik said while no specific revenue guidance is associated with this exemption, it is expected to have a material positive impact on DroneShield financials.