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North West Shelf UAS Trial

Mariner Demonstrator UAV

Imagery from the Mariner Demonstrator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

Colour, high-magnification and infrared imagery from the North West Shelf UAV Trial can be seen in the Image Gallery at the right of this page.

Flying Start to North West Shelf Unmanned Aircraft Trial - 1st September 2006

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Senator Sandy Macdonald, today launched a major Defence trial aimed at testing the ability of an unmanned aircraft to perform maritime surveillance in Australia’s North West Shelf.

Senator Macdonald said the trial involves a Mariner Demonstrator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) working with a Royal Australian Navy Armidale Class Patrol Boat, the Joint Offshore Protection Command and the Pilbara Regiment to conduct surveillance and response missions.

A demonstration flight of the UAV has been performed today at RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia, which will act as the control and communications centre while the aircraft is airborne. 

“The North West Shelf is of vital strategic and economic importance to Australia and enhancing existing security in this area is a priority for the government.  This trial meets an election commitment outlined in our 2004 policy on Securing Australia’s North West Shelf,” he 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 and other assets to provide an additional layer of surveillance in Australia’s northern maritime approaches. 

Full media release

High-Res Images for Media

• Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Senator Sandy Macdonald and Chief Defence Scientist Dr Roger Lough with the Mariner Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle in Edinburgh SA to mark the commencement of the NWS UAS Trial

• The Mariner UAV pictured off the coast of Adelaide during pre-trial flights conducted by DSTO

• The Mariner UAV flying over the northern coastline of Kangaroo Island in South Australia

Air Supplements

AIP SUPP H29/06

Audio Files

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

Trial Project Leader, Dr. Ian Sare explains who is involved in the trial (.wav audio file, 4.3MB)

Trial Project Leader, Dr Ian Sare explains where the trial will take place (.wav audio file, 2.3MB)

Trial Project Leader, Dr Ian Sare explains the significance of the trial from a technology perspective (.wav audio file, 7.9MB)

Video Files

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

Trial Project Leader, Dr. Ian Sare explains who is involved in the trial (.avi video file, 4.3MB)

Trial Project Leader, Dr Ian Sare explains where the trial will take place (.avi video file, 2.3MB)

Trial Project Leader, Dr Ian Sare explains the significance of the trial from a technology perspective (.avi video file, 7.9MB)