DroneShield Surpasses 400 Employees, Boosts Production Capacity to $2.4B by 2026
DroneShield is investing $13 million over three years to open a new counter-drone research facility in Adelaide, marking a key step in its global growth and technology development.
- Establishment of $13 million R&D facility in Adelaide over three years
- Creation of approximately 20 high-skilled engineering jobs focused on RF and electronic warfare
- Leadership by Jeff Wojtiuk, former Lockheed Martin Australia engineer
- Global workforce surpasses 400 employees, with rapid recent growth
- Expansion complements manufacturing scale-up in Sydney, Europe, and the US
Strategic Investment in South Australia
DroneShield Limited (ASX – DRO), a global frontrunner in counter-drone and electronic warfare technologies, has announced a $13 million investment to establish a new research and development facility in Adelaide, South Australia. This move underscores the company's commitment to expanding its technical capabilities and presence within Australia’s defence ecosystem.
The Adelaide facility is set to create around 20 specialised engineering roles focused on radiofrequency electronics, electronic warfare, and systems integration. The choice of Adelaide reflects its reputation as a defence and aerospace hub, supported by a skilled workforce and infrastructure tailored to advanced technology development.
Leadership and Expertise Driving Innovation
Heading the new facility will be Jeff Wojtiuk, a seasoned engineer with over two decades of experience in defence and aerospace, including senior roles at Lockheed Martin Australia. Wojtiuk’s expertise in RF design and complex systems integration is expected to steer the facility’s technical direction, accelerating DroneShield’s next-generation counter-drone and electronic warfare solutions.
DroneShield’s Chief Executive, Oleg Vornik, highlighted the strategic importance of expanding beyond the Sydney headquarters, emphasizing the company’s focus on deep technical capability and rapid delivery of advanced defence technologies.
Global Growth and Production Capacity Expansion
This announcement coincides with DroneShield surpassing 400 employees worldwide, nearly doubling its workforce in the past year. The majority of these employees are engineers, reinforcing the company’s technology-driven growth strategy. Additionally, DroneShield is scaling up its manufacturing capacity from $500 million to $2.4 billion annually by the end of 2026, with new manufacturing initiatives underway in Europe and the United States.
While the direct sales impact of the Adelaide facility is not yet quantifiable, the company anticipates it will be material over time, given the rising global demand for counter-drone technologies amid increasing drone-related threats.
Regional and Government Support
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas welcomed the investment, noting the state's strong defence industry ecosystem and its status as the 'Defence State.' The government’s support for research and development aligns with DroneShield’s expansion plans, promising economic benefits and job creation in the region.
With the Adelaide facility expected to be fully operational by March 2026, DroneShield is positioning itself to meet surging global demand while reinforcing Australia’s role in advanced defence technology development.
Bottom Line?
DroneShield’s Adelaide expansion signals a robust growth trajectory, but investors will watch closely for tangible sales impact and integration with global operations.
Questions in the middle?
- How quickly will the Adelaide R&D facility contribute to new product development and revenue?
- What are the specific projects or technologies that the new team will focus on?
- How will DroneShield balance its global manufacturing and R&D footprint to maintain competitive advantage?
