Smartshooter announced in late August it is establishing an Australian subsidiary – Smash Australia – consolidating the company’s footprint in Australia, a market in which a number of Israeli defence firms are taking an increasingly active role.
The company recently participated in the Army Robotics eXposition in Perth, showing its Smash Hopper remote-controlled weapon ststion (RWS) integrated with QinetiQ’s lightweight ground robot, Talon Sword. As Australia seeks to significantly expand its use of unmanned systems in defence and security applications, the role that robotic systems will play in mission planning, preparation and execution will increase dramatically. The question of whether and how to offer sovereign industry content (SIC) in Australia will offer a model for the company to consider similar requirements in other strategic markets.
Australian special forces are understood to be seriously considering a range of Smartshooter solutions – interest that has increased since the company won a contract from US special forces last year. From the wider all-arms perspective, the company is also addressing relevant parts of the Land 125 (C-UAS) and Land 159 (close combat weapons) programmes.
The establishment of an Australian subsidiary, with strategic responsibility for the entire Oceania region, marks a huge step forward for Smartshooter. Smash Australia will be headed by Lachlan Mercer, the company’s previous Territory Manager for Australia and New Zealand.
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(Image: The Smash Hopper system can be easily mounted on a wide range of platforms. Credit: Smartshooter)
