Australia tests Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles with AI-powered counter-drone systems following lessons from Ukraine.

As reported by ABC News on March 23, 2025, Australia is advancing efforts to enhance the protection of its military vehicles against the increasing threat of small uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS) by introducing a counter-drone upgrade for its Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMVs). The Australian Army’s vehicle fleet, in service since the late 1990s, is undergoing trials for a counter-UAS (C-UAS) system developed by Thales Australia in partnership with Dedrone by Axon. The system has been successfully tested in simulated battlefield environments in Victoria and is designed to operate while the vehicle is in motion. This development follows increased global interest in mobile drone defenses, particularly due to the extensive use of drones in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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The counter-drone system is intended to be retrofitted onto any existing Bushmaster vehicle and is designed to counter Group 1 to Group 3 drone threats through electronic disruption, while maintaining mobility and operational awareness. (Picture source: Dedrone)

The counter-drone system combines DedroneTracker.AI software with passive RF sensors mounted on the Bushmaster. According to Thales Australia representative Mitchell O’Dwyer, the integration of this capability addresses new threats emerging in current operational theatres. Dedrone by Axon’s Ash Alexander-Cooper stated that the system is capable of detecting drones at long distances and disrupting them without requiring a direct line of sight. The system is intended to be retrofitted onto any existing Bushmaster vehicle and is designed to counter Group 1 to Group 3 drone threats through electronic disruption, while maintaining mobility and operational awareness.

As of early 2025, the Australian Defence Force has not yet implemented the Dedrone system across its Bushmaster fleet. However, the Department of Defence is progressing with Project LAND 156, which seeks to provide a minimum viable counter-drone capability across the Army’s land force by 2032. Since 2022, Australia has donated 120 Bushmasters to Ukraine as part of more than A$1.3 billion in military support. In parallel, delays in the delivery of donated M1A1 Abrams tanks have raised criticism. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has called for faster action, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cited the logistical complexities of sending military equipment into a conflict zone and stated that delivery efforts are ongoing in cooperation with U.S. partners.

Legislative and operational challenges also constrain the use of counter-drone capabilities within Australia. The Defence Act requires state government approval and supervision by civil aviation authorities or designated law enforcement before action can be taken against drones. Additionally, the federal Aviation Act prohibits interference with any aircraft in flight unless there is an immediate threat to life. These restrictions limit the ADF’s capacity to respond to drone activity over domestic military facilities. International examples and previous incidents, such as kamikaze drone attacks along the Turkish border, illustrate how drone countermeasures are often quickly followed by counter-countermeasures, necessitating continuous capability upgrades.

In addition to the Thales-Dedrone partnership, other companies have expressed interest in contributing to LAND 156. DroneShield, a Sydney-based company with approximately 1,000 RF jamming devices in service with Ukrainian forces, plans to participate. EOS, based in Canberra, offers the Slinger kinetic interceptor and the Titanis layered defense system, which includes a high-energy laser. EOS CEO Andreas Schwer has noted the reduced effectiveness of jamming alone as drones adopt shielding and autonomous navigation. Anduril Australia, which supports U.S. Special Operations Command’s unmanned systems program, is conducting a three-year trial with the Royal Australian Air Force at RAAF Base Darwin. CEO David Goodrich noted the need for rapidly deployable systems to address constantly evolving drone technology.

Initially developed in the 1990s under Project Bushranger to meet the Australian Army’s requirement for an infantry mobility vehicle, the Bushmaster PMV entered service in 1997 and has been produced by Thales Australia in multiple variants for domestic use and export. (Picture source: Australian MoD)

Project LAND 156 was formally announced as part of the Integrated Investment Program and focuses on countering Group 1 and Group 2 drones weighing up to 55 kg. These systems have seen widespread use in Ukraine for surveillance and strikes against vehicles and personnel. Defence released an Approach to Market in November 2024 to find a Systems Integration Partner (SIP) via a two-stage procurement process. A Request for Tender will open on 30 January 2025 and close on 30 March. According to Assistant Secretary Alex Rothwell, the ADF aims to deploy C-UAS systems domestically and abroad, incorporating sensor fusion, scalable architecture, and a mix of non-kinetic and kinetic effectors.

The counter-drone system tested on the Bushmaster is the DedroneOnTheMove (DedroneOTM). It uses DedroneTracker.AI, a command-and-control software platform based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. The system supports sensor fusion and allows detection, tracking, identification, and mitigation while the vehicle is in motion. The configuration is vehicle-independent, compatible with MIL-STD-1275 and MIL-STD-810H standards, and can integrate with kinetic or electronic effectors, including the optional DedroneDefender smart jammer. Dedrone reports deployments in 33 countries, including six G7 nations, with installations across 926 sites, 17 U.S. federal agencies, and 30 non-U.S. government entities.

The Bushmaster PMV is a four-wheel-drive armored vehicle developed by Thales Australia. It features a v-hull monocoque chassis and is designed to transport infantry while providing protection against IEDs and small arms fire. It can carry up to 10 personnel, including the driver, with an operational range of 800 kilometers and a maximum governed speed of 100 km/h. It supports various armaments, including a remote weapon station or manned turret with weapons up to 12.7 mm. The Bushmaster has been deployed in operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Mali, and Ukraine. It has also been used by armed forces in Australia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, Indonesia, Fiji, and Ukraine.

Thales Australia continues to upgrade the Bushmaster platform. Recent updates include modular armor, electric variants, command and control configurations, and integration with systems such as HIMARS and maritime strike weapons. Orders include 78 vehicles in 2023 to replace those sent to Ukraine, 15 for HIMARS command roles to be delivered in 2026, and 44 for future land-based missile systems. The platform has also seen export variants such as the Indonesian Sanca and the New Zealand NZ5.5. As of January 2025, more than 1,300 Bushmasters have been built. The Australian Army plans to maintain the platform in service through at least 2030.