A Defence trial, using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and an Armidale Class patrol boat, will be conducted across Australia’s North West Shelf region in September 2006, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Senator Sandy Macdonald announced today.

Senator Macdonald said the proposed trial was a commitment made by the Australian Government in its 2004 election policy Securing Australia’s North West Shelf.

“The North West Shelf region is of vital strategic and economic interest to Australia and enhancing existing security in this area is a priority for the government. Criminal activities such as illegal fishing, drug running and people smuggling must be stopped,” Senator Macdonald said.

Senator Macdonald said the trial will assess the potential of UAVs to operate under a joint, integrated surveillance capability with the Navy’s Armidale Class Patrol Boats to provide an additional layer of surveillance in Australia’s approaches.

The trial is being led by the Defence Science & Technology Organisation (DSTO) in collaboration with the Navy, RAAF, Army and other areas of Defence, as well as the Joint Offshore Protection Command (a partnership between Defence and the Australian Customs Service).

US company General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) will be jointly conducting the trial with Defence. A UAV system, made by the company, will serve as the aerial platform for the trial.

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