Arkeus HSOR Wins Australian Army’s WAAS Surveillance Contract
▼ Summary
– Arkeus’s Hyperspectral Optical Radar (HSOR) has been selected to support the Australian Army’s Wide Area Airborne Surveillance (WAAS) Program for its Tactical Uncrewed Aerial Systems.
– The selection followed a competitive global tender process that evaluated advanced sensing technologies from around the world.
– HSOR is a wide-area, real-time hyperspectral sensor designed to overcome limitations of traditional optical systems and provide persistent detection in complex environments.
– This technology will enhance situational awareness and operational effectiveness for reconnaissance, targeting, and manoeuvre operations.
– Arkeus’s HSOR has also been demonstrated with the US Department of War and is backed by Australian deep tech investment funds.
The Australian Army has selected the Arkeus Hyperspectral Optical Radar (HSOR) to enhance its Wide Area Airborne Surveillance (WAAS) Program, significantly boosting the capabilities of its Tactical Uncrewed Aerial Systems. Arkeus, an Australian firm specializing in AI-driven autonomous optical sensing, confirmed the contract award following a rigorous global tender process that evaluated advanced sensing technologies from international contenders.
HSOR represents a major leap forward in wide-area, real-time hyperspectral Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) sensing. Developed through a series of Australian Defence contracts, this technology overcomes the operational shortcomings of traditional electro-optical and long-wave infrared systems. Unlike conventional optical payloads, HSOR delivers persistent detection and classification even within complex and visually challenging environments.
The WAAS initiative is managed by the Land Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare (LISREW) division at Army Headquarters. Its primary goal is to improve wide-area ISR coverage and decision-making superiority across the Army’s fleet of Tactical Uncrewed Aerial Systems. By integrating Arkeus’s hyperspectral sensing technology, the Australian Army expects to achieve greater situational awareness and extend the operational effectiveness of its TUAS platforms, directly supporting reconnaissance, targeting, and maneuver missions.
Simon Olsen, CEO of Arkeus, emphasized the system’s performance advantages. “Our clients require capabilities that remain effective in demanding and degraded visual conditions,” he stated. “Throughout the evaluation, HSOR consistently proved its ability to operate successfully in situations where traditional optical systems fall short. We are proud to assist the Australian Army in securing a decisive ISR advantage.”
This contract builds on recent momentum for Arkeus, including ongoing demonstrations of the HSOR technology for the US Department of Defense across various operational scenarios. The company is backed by prominent Australian deep tech investment funds, including Main Sequence, Salus Ventures, and Beaten Zone Ventures.
Arkeus focuses on accelerating decision-making by merging advanced optics with autonomous systems. The company excels in the rapid design, innovation, and manufacturing of autonomous optical capabilities, delivering transformative results for Search, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (SISR) missions. Its wide-area autonomous optical search and surveillance systems are tailored for a diverse range of applications, including ISR, border protection, large-scale urban monitoring, force protection, counter-terrorism, illegal activity detection, and search and rescue operations across land, sea, and space domains. Specializing in extracting and disseminating critical intelligence in contested or difficult environments, Arkeus continues to push the boundaries of optical sensing technology.
(Source: ITWire Australia)
