DroneShield to open R&D facility in Adelaide

Australian counter-drone technology company DroneShield has announced a $13 million investment in a new research and development facility in Adelaide, South Australia. The investment covers three years of operational and capital expenditure and will initially create around 20 high-skilled engineering roles in Adelaide — focused on radio frequency (RF) electronics, electronic warfare (EW) and systems integration — to support DroneShield’s mission to deliver cutting-edge defence technologies.

The South Australian expansion complements DroneShield’s existing engineering operations in Sydney and supports its continued growth in advanced RF electronics and EW capabilities, with the company having nearly doubled its team in the past year to surpass 400 employees globally. Adelaide has been chosen due to its proximity to leading global defence and aerospace organisations, its highly skilled engineering workforce, and established infrastructure supporting advanced technology development — particularly in EW and RF systems.

“South Australia is recognised as a national leader in defence and space industries, with Adelaide home to a highly skilled and experienced workforce,” said DroneShield Chief Executive Oleg Vornik. “Establishing our first R&D office in Australia outside of our Sydney headquarters … is a strategic move that supports DroneShield’s mission to deliver world-leading counter-drone and EW solutions.”

The South Australian facility will be led by Jeff Wojtiuk, a leading Australian engineer who specialises in RF technologies. Wojtiuk brings over two decades of experience in defence and aerospace systems engineering, with a strong background in RF design, EW and complex systems integration. He has held senior engineering roles across major defence programs — including over a decade of experience at Lockheed Martin Australia — and has contributed to the development of advanced radar and communications technologies.

“DroneShield’s new R&D facility in Adelaide marks a significant step forward in our commitment to ensuring our technology roadmap is being supported by the best engineering minds nationally,” said DroneShield Chief Product and Technology Officer Angus Bean. “Our new facility is critical to accelerating the development of our next-generation counter-drone and EW technologies, while expanding our engineering footprint and supporting critical project development for global customers.”

The new site is expected to be fully up and running by March 2026.

Image caption: DroneShield’s anechoic chamber supports research and development contributing to the company’s counter-drone technologies.