Adelaide companies Praetorian Aeronautics and Zero Dawn have teamed up to develop a critical defence capability that will enhance air and missile defence systems in Australia and allied nations, while advancing the state’s role in supporting the national Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise.

The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), that will seek to integrate Zero Dawn’s locally-manufactured munitions into Praetorian’s counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS), Arrow, which is designed to detect and intercept drones and other unmanned systems in contested environments.

Founder and CEO of Praetorian Aeronautics Brett Hill said counter-autonomy is becoming one of the defining defence and industrial challenges globally.

“We believe Australia should be building sovereign technology in this field, not simply importing it. Our partnership with Zero Dawn is another step in turning that technology base into a complete Australian industrial capability,” he said.

CEO of Zero Dawn John Giffard said the partnership with Praetorian brings together complementary Australian technologies to create a more complete sovereign counter-autonomy capability.

“The objective is not simply a technical demonstration. We intend to work together through integration, qualification, certification and production readiness so that Australian and approved international customers can access a credible Australian-developed capability,” he said.

The signing follows a test exercise in August, where the companies successfully conducted ground-based blast testing of the Zero Dawn munition integrated within Praetorian’s Arrow interceptor. The test was witnessed by Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, with Praetorian and Zero Dawn intending to export the capability in 2027, for Ukraine’s urgent operational demand.

Under the MoU, the companies will work together to progress detailed integration, testing, certification, production and market development opportunities, strengthening Australia’s position within allied defence supply chains.

The partnership will strengthen the state’s defence industry by creating opportunities for local suppliers across manufacturing, production, testing and sustainment, helping build a resilient sovereign supply chain.

The initiative will also strengthen South Australia’s defence industry by retaining critical sovereign capability, expertise and intellectual property, particularly in the GWEO domain, which is a strategic priority for the Department of Defence.

Established in 2024, Praetorian employs 50 people and has attracted $15 million in capital to build its technology capability, with the potential to create up to 60 new jobs as it expands its manufacturing operations in Adelaide.

Headquartered at Lot Fourteen, Zero Dawn is a 100 per cent Australian and veteran-owned defence company. It intends to expand its research, development and manufacturing activities, creating at least 15 new technical positions in regional South Australia from 2027.

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Image: L-R, CEO of Zero Dawn John Giffard, Minister for Defence & Space Industries Chris Picton MP and Founder and CEO of Praetorian Aeronautics Brett Hill after the two Adelaide defence companies signed an MoU.