Army buys more autonomous mobile target systems

Geelong’s Deakin University will deliver additional robotics-driven target systems to the Australian Defence Force, supporting nearly two dozen Australian small businesses.

FILE PHOTO: An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams fires in bushland at Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland. 

The contract, valued at over $1 million, will see the ADF receive six more RAIDER Mobile Moving Target Systems, which mimic tanks and light armoured vehicles, as well as trailers and thermal targets.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said RAIDER was a world-first system developed by Deakin University to provide more realistic mobile target systems for combined-arms live-fire training.

“This project has already injected more than $1.5 million into the community through partnering with Australian small businesses,” Minister Price said.

“This is leading technology developed here in Australia, which is not only creating opportunities for local industry but also keeping our soldiers safe.”

RAIDER is a mobile moving target system that enables soldiers to conduct live-fire day and night training in a highly realistic environment.

Travelling up to 40km/h, multiple semi-autonomous self-driving RAIDER systems can be controlled remotely by a single operator, allowing a highly variable and dynamic training environment with low operating overheads.

RAIDER is a highly modular, upgradable, expandable and versatile training system, that is simple to operate and features construction methods that leverage existing sovereign capability.

RAIDER is proudly 100% Australian designed, owned, manufactured and supported.

Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson said of the 23 small businesses involved in the project, 14 were from the Geelong community.

“I congratulate Deakin University on pioneering this technology and helping to ensure the ADF has the best capability to defend Australia’s interests,” Senator Henderson said.

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