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North West Shelf UAS Trial

Aims of the North West Shelf UAS Trial

Mariner Demonstrator UAV

The purpose of the North West Shelf Trial was to:

• assess the maritime surveillance potential of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to operate with Armidale Class Patrol Boats in providing an enhanced layer of security in Australia’s northern approaches; and
  
• enable Defence to make a practical assessment of the utility of UAVs as one component of an integrated national surveillance network.

The trial also assessed the procedures and practices for sharing surveillance information among government agencies to develop a whole-of-government response to Australia’s national security needs.

The trial is expected to provide several benefits for the government, including:

• useful data to assist Defence in developing its requirements to acquire a long-endurance, multi-mission unmanned aerial system under Project AIR 7000 Phase 1; and
  
• assisting the Joint Offshore Protection Command, Immigration, Fisheries and Quarantine services to assess the value of using UAVs for coastal surveillance and border protection.

Trial Project Leader, Dr Ian Sare explains the purpose of the trial (.wav audio file, 4.5MB)