BAE Systems Australia and another local manufacturer unveiled a new uncrewed military aircraft that will be designed, manufactured and armed in Australia.

The 2 point 6 meter by 4 point 5 meter STRIX uncrewed air system, UAS, launched at the Avalon Air Show, will be capable of air to ground strikes, surveillance and reconnaissance in high-risk environments. Work on a prototype is under way, with operational service possible by 2026, said Ben Hudson, chief executive of BAE Systems Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of BAE Systems BAES.L, Britain's biggest defense company.