NIOA, AeroVironment team to offer and support loitering munitions Down Under

SINGAPORE — Australia’s NIOA Group and US firm AeroVironment have entered into a strategic partnership to bring AV’s loitering munitions capabilities Down Under.

The two companies announced at the ongoing Land Forces defense exhibition in Australia that they will team together to “support the introduction into service, sustainment and future growth of advanced loitering munitions capabilities across Australia and New Zealand.”

A new release from NIOA said, “The partnership establishes a framework for cooperation across the AeroVironment portfolio, including the combat-proven Switchblade family of precision loitering munitions, and positions NIOA as AeroVironment’s local partner for distribution, customer engagement, support and long-term capability development.”

It added that both companies “will also explore opportunities to expand support and industrial capability in Australia” and “reflects a shared commitment to supporting Australian Defence Force requirements and exploring opportunities for local support, sustainment and future industrial capability development.”

Ben James, NOIA’s executive vice president of Australia and New Zealand, noted that Australia’s 2024 Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) plan, released by the Australian military, called for the introduction of the Switchblade 300 loitering munition into the Australian Army “by 2025,” following an earlier acquisition announcement.

“Combining NIOA’s deep expertise in strategic munitions supply, manufacturing and support with AeroVironment’s global leadership in loitering munitions and autonomous systems technology represents a significant win for both the ADF and in the integration of Australian and US industrial bases,” James said in the release.

AeroVironment vice president of international business development Justin McFarlin said that the partnership with NIOA combines “AeroVironment’s combat-proven technologies with a trusted Australian defence industry partner to support customers, strengthen sovereign capability outcomes and establish the foundations for long-term growth across the region.”