Chris Picton MP
Minister for State Development
Minister for Defence & Space Industries

For the first time, a South Australian Minister will lead a delegation to Poland – largest economy in central Europe – to explore increasing opportunities across defence industry partnerships, investment attraction and export potential.

It comes as South Australian company Praetorian Aeronautics is taking its capabilities to Europe, announcing plans to establish its first overseas presence with a new European headquarters in Poland.

Praetorian Aeronautics develops counter drone technology, with their range of interceptors and AI products helping defence forces identify, understand and protect themselves from aerial threats such as drone attacks and missiles.

The company has selected Poland for its strong commitment to defence, highly capable industrial base, technical workforce and strategic position close to ongoing conflicts in the region.

South Australian State Development Minister Chris Picton departed on the weekend for a one-week defence industry focused mission to Poland and the United Kingdom, alongside a senior defence industry delegation.

While in Poland, Minister Picton will participate in the International Defence Industry Exhibition (commonly referred to as MSPO) – the largest military defence exhibition in Central and Eastern Europe – supporting South Australian defence and space companies who will exhibit including:

• Praetorian Aeronautics
• Codan
• Silentium Defence
• Southern Launch
• RFTEQ
• Norseld Photonics
• Ferra Labs
• Humanihut

The Minister will meet and highlight the capability of local defence industry with senior officials in the Polish Government and in other allied governments who will be attending the major conference.

Minister Picton will also convene a wine industry event in Poland and meet with senior Government officials to further capitalise on emerging export opportunities through the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement.

While in the UK, Minister Picton will meet with key defence officials and companies, including BAE and Rolls Royce, with a focus on maximising South Australian industry involvement and local jobs through AUKUS.

The trip will include site visits to major submarine construction facilities and training precincts including Barrow-in-Furness, Derby and the Submarine Academy for Skills and Knowledge.

Minister Picton will also meet with senior leaders from the technology, investment and artificial intelligence sectors to promote South Australia as a destination for investment.

The overseas mission comes as South Australia’s global trade momentum continues to grow, with the state’s exports achieving a new record for the fourth month running, reaching $18.8 billion in the year to July 2026 – over $2 billion more than the previous year.

This has been bolstered by increased exports to the European Union (EU) which jumped 22.5 per cent to $1.27 billion – South Australia’s growth outpaces the nation’s overall EU exports, which only grew 3.2 per cent in the same period.

SA exports to the UK – another key trading partner – increased 14 per cent to $431 million.

The demand for defence industry hardware across Europe continues to grow, with companies like Praetorian Aeronautics working with defence forces from allied nations to export affordable and scalable counter drone capabilities to protect from drone attacks.

Praetorian plans to establish its Warsaw office within the next 90 days, with staged recruitment in Poland to follow.

Praetorian’s decision to establish its Central and Eastern European headquarters in Poland has been enabled by the support of the Department of Defence’s Team Defence Australia (TDA) program and Austrade, providing access to priority markets, customers and industry partners.

Adelaide will remain Praetorian’s global headquarters and its design and technology authority. The Warsaw presence will complement the company’s South Australian operations by creating a forward base for European customer engagement, industrial cooperation and programme delivery.

Quotes attributable to Chris Picton

This mission brings together some of most significant opportunities ahead of South Australia.

We are looking at every opportunity available whether it’s greater AUKUS collaboration and investment, defence opportunities in a rearming Europe, expanding free trade to Europe or our ongoing leadership in artificial intelligence.

Our government is seizing these opportunities and putting South Australian business and South Australian jobs at the forefront.

Poland has emerged as one of Europe’s fastest-growing economies, and I am proud to be the first South Australia Trade Minister to lead a delegation to the nation.

Poland and Eastern Europe provide new opportunities for South Australian businesses across defence, technology, trade, energy and advanced manufacturing.

Quotes attributable to Brett Hill, CEO Praetorian Aeronautics

Poland is where urgency, industrial capability and strategic resolve come together.

Our decision to expand will take South Australian technology closer to European customers while retaining high-value design and technology leadership in Adelaide.

Poland is an important partner for Australia and a natural location for a South Australian defence technology company seeking to support Europe’s security.