02 - Systems Engineering and Integration
BEYOND THE HARDWARE: REGULATION AND CERTIFICATION AS THE CRITICAL PATH TO ADF AUTONOMOUS CAPABILITY
K. Joyce¹, K. Joiner¹, V. Daria, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia; J. Young¹; ¹University of New South Wales, Australia
Large-scale autonomous drones face regulatory as well as technical, barriers. Analysing ‘Dragonfly’ and CCA concepts and prototypes, this paper highlights how lagging certification frameworks pose strategic risks. To transition to a lead adopter by the 2030s, the ADF must prioritise co-developing airworthiness and legal frameworks as core capabilities alongside technological innovation.