The Australian company DroneShield, producer of counter-uncrewed aerial systems (counter-UAS) technology, announced on 30 June a contract package worth US$9.7 million for an undisclosed Latin American customer.
Specifically, the company announced three contracts “for its handheld and on-the-move counter-drone systems.” DroneShield will deliver the systems via its privately owned in-country reseller, which is contractually required to distribute the systems to “a defense end customer in a Latin American country,” the company explained in a press release. Zona Militar contacted DroneShield to learn about this contract and other projects the company has with Latin America; company representatives declined to elaborate further on the new contract or other agreements, citing confidentiality clauses.
Delivery of all systems is expected to occur throughout Q3 and Q4 of 2025.
Drone threats are a growing problem in Latin America. Criminal networks already utilize these systems for surveillance and to transport contraband. In countries like Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, gangs, cartels and narco-insurgents are now using drones to transport lethal payloads, namely explosives. These narco-drones have been used to attack military and law enforcement targets, as well as rival criminal networks. In 2024, a video was released showing a Colombian riverine patrol vessel along the Naya River shooting at three drones in the sky.
Zona Militar asked DroneShield how the company’s counter-UAS can help Latin American armed forces and other security services address these aerial challenges. Carlos Gutierrez, Sales Director for Latin America, told ZM that the company “DroneShield’s systems deliver an easy-to-use, reliable, and effective counter-drone solution that helps identify and defeat the threat,” which will protect military personnel on the field or safeguard critical infrastructure.
The sale to Latin America was the second contract announced this past June. That same month, DroneShield announced three standalone follow-on contracts worth US$61.6 million for an undisclosed European military. Delivery of the systems is expected to occur in Q3 of this year. The Australian company is very interested in expanding its footprint in Europe, which is increasing defense spending as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues.
To this end, DroneShield plans to establish a European Centre of Excellence, focusing on manufacturing and assembly, research and development, drone testing, and training. When complete, this center will be DroneShield’s first European manufacturing and in-house assembly facility outside of Australia. (The company has also pledged an additional US$13 million in research & development and manufacturing capacity expansion by building a 3,000 sqm production facility in Sydney’s Alexandria, with an expected opening in December 2025).
The company has been very successful in expanding its global footprint. Besides Latin America and Europe sales, the Indo-Pacific continues to be a region of interest for DroneShield. In April, the company announced five standalone contracts for an Asia-Pacific military customer, totaling US$32.2 million.
DroneShield offers a growing family of counter-UAS solutions. The most famous systems are the counter-UAS rifles, specifically the DroneGun Mk4 and DroneGun Tactical, designed for dismounted troops. The Mk4 can defeat a variety of commercial and military-grade drones by disrupting their control, video, and navigation signals across multiple frequency bands. The company has also developed the DroneSentry-X Mk2 a mobile solution that can be easily installed on light tactical vehicles or set up on military bases. With a weight of only 46 kg, the DroneSentry Mk2 is ideal for vehicles like the Polaris MRZR. The system provides 360-degree coverage, and its artificial intelligence provides operators with “real-time threat intelligence for rapid decision-making and responses” to drone threats.
New software solutions are also a priority for DroneShield, which already produces the DroneSentry C-2 and DroneSentry-C2 Tactical command and control solutions. At the Avalon Australian International Airshow 2025, held in Australia in March, the company announced the launch of the UAS Incident Platform, which is now available to its customers. The software tracks incidents involving drones by utilizing open-source data and provides real-time intelligence on UAS-related developments and emerging threats. “Our new UAS Incident platform is a game-changer for both our military and civilian customers alike,” said Oleg Vornik, CEO and Managing Director at DroneShield. Whoever is the end user for the new Latin American military contract, would have access to the Platform.
South American skies will continue to become increasingly populated by drones. At the recent F-Air expo in Colombia, the Ministry of Defense unveiled Dragom (Dron de Reconocimiento y Ataque Guiado para Operaciones Militares), a new, locally manufactured UAS.
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