Aussie Defense Innovation: Northrop Grumman and Leonardo Join Forces for Royal Navy’s Maritime UAS Future

 Northrop Grumman Australia (NYSE: NOC) and Leonardo Australia’s consortium has been selected to advance to the subsequent phase of the SEA129 Phase 5 initiative for the procurement of a maritime unmanned aerial system (MUAS) aimed at providing a deployable intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting (ISR&T) functionality to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The proposal by Northrop Grumman and Leonardo will significantly enhance operational capabilities and tactical decision-making during RAN maritime missions.

“Northrop Grumman possesses decades of unparalleled expertise in delivering and maintaining unmanned and manned aerial systems for clients in Australia and around the world,” stated Christine Zeitz, general manager for Asia Pacific at Northrop Grumman. “We are assured that our MUAS solution provides world-class capabilities that meet the RAN’s ISR&T mission objectives, while also optimizing the potential of the Australian industry.”

The proposal from the Northrop Grumman and Leonardo consortium features the cutting-edge AWHero MUAS platform and subsystems, which are specifically engineered to function in intricate maritime settings. The AWHero is founded on a mature and modular structure that accommodates a diverse and easily adaptable range of payloads, including Leonardo’s Maritime Radar for unrivaled ISR&T area coverage.

The offering also includes an export-ready variant of Northrop Grumman’s pioneering Distributed Autonomy/Responsive Control (DA/RC) command and control system. When integrated with the ship, control center, and aircraft, DA/RC will provide advanced and automated tactical decision-making capabilities to the RAN, enabling them to outsmart threats in a complex, unpredictable hostile landscape. The collaborative autonomy software will also be embedded in Northrop Grumman Australia’s distributed systems integration laboratory, allowing the RAN and Australian industry to enter a collaborative development workspace to efficiently leverage emerging technologies.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Northrop Grumman and Australian industry associates, further enhancing our cooperative strategy in Australia,” remarked Brian McEachen, VP of Military Sales Asia-Pacific at Leonardo Helicopters. “The integrated capabilities of the AWHero capitalize on Leonardo’s proficiency in rotorcraft, system integration, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and operations in the maritime sector, which, when combined with Northrop Grumman’s vast array of leading technologies, will equip the Royal Australian Navy with the high-level MUAS-based ISR&T they require now and in the future.”

A vital component of the Northrop Grumman and Leonardo proposal is a dedication to maximizing Australian industry involvement. A robust and dependable domestic support framework composed of proven industry players will be engaged in the manufacturing, delivery, maintenance, and ongoing development of sovereign MUAS capabilities to the Australian Defence Force, addressing the RAN’s current and future demands.

Northrop Grumman confronts the most challenging issues in space, aeronautics, defense, and cyberspace to fulfill the continuously evolving requirements of our clients globally. Our team of 97,000 personnel defines what is achievable every day, utilizing science, technology, and engineering to create and provide cutting-edge systems, products, and services.