The Royal Australian Air Force is developing an autonomous uncrewed aerial system based on the Jabiru 400 airframe as part of a broader push to modernise logistics supply chains across northern Australia.
The project, known as JabX, is being led by the RAAF's Jericho Disruptive Innovation team and was announced in a Department of Defence release on 4 May. Developed in partnership with Brisbane-based avionics company RFDesign, JabX features purpose-built autonomous avionics and a graphical user interface for mission oversight.
Under Project Camel Train, the aircraft will operate along dedicated UAS flight corridors designed to link remote airfields and coastal bases into a precision cargo delivery network, without drawing on crewed transport assets.
"By automating cargo movement across the north, we strengthen our logistics tail," said Deputy Director Disruptive Experimentation Wing Commander Keirin Joyce. "It ensures dispersed teams, from littoral operators to personnel at remote airbases, remain supported without over-tasking our crewed transport fleet."
A companion initiative, Project Arena, addresses the challenge of autonomous flight in shared airspace. In partnership with Sydney-based Mission Systems, JDI is developing Boobook-DAA, a compact detect-and-avoid radar capable of tracking other aircraft day and night at ranges of at least 7km, designed to replicate a pilot's ability to see and avoid other airspace users.
Jabiru director Michael Halloran said the company was pleased to be part of the program. "We are excited to be involved with the RAAF Jericho initiatives to build a sovereign UAS capability and supportive of the Camel Train program. We believe that Jabiru has plenty to offer as a provider of uncrewed logistics platforms, building on 35 years of experience of building crewed aircraft of a similar size and capability."
Halloran noted the JabX approach offered significant development advantages. "By utilising a J400 aircraft and turning it into an optionally crewed aircraft, it removes the vast time and resources required to develop a new platform and accelerates the development of the autonomy systems by being able to crew a safety pilot on board for test flying. Once the autonomy systems are developed and proved, the transition to a dedicated autonomous logistics platform, which is 80% common with the crewed aircraft in the form of the JU30, is relatively straightforward and production can be scaled from the existing commercial production lines and supply chains."
Together, Camel Train and Arena represent a significant step toward routine autonomous air logistics for the ADF, and a notable new application for one of Australia's most recognisable light aircraft airframes.