ADF UAV talk

The ADF is repeating its mention that it is  looking at higher end UAVs above and beyond the small battlefield variety that were used in Afghanistan.

You can read one of the articles on this topic here. Not great, that is the media in general in this part of the world.

Australia could use bigger UAVs. And not just to help find missing airliners. While there is a lot of talk about the Triton, they are $138M each (Triton crash in Maryland). Too expensive to lose for our budget.

Not mentioned in the article at the first link above is the excellent concept of the Mariner. This builds on knowledge gained by the company that made the Predator and Reaper.

The Mariner would be very helpful in keeping better eyes on the surrounding water both for a border patrol sense and as a sensor trip-wire.

For Australia, I would rather see the Mariner and Avenger. That gives a level of affordability.

Australia just had its greatest naval victory in recent history against a threat with no air force, submarines, or major surface combatants. A Mariner capability would have been useful. And would be for the future.