AIM Defence supplies Australia with additional AI-powered Fractl counter-drone laser systems
On October 8, 2024, Australian company AIM Defence announced the delivery of two additional Fractl counter-drone laser systems. This delivery follows a $4.8 million contract signed at the end of August to supply the Australian Defence Force (ADF), bringing AIM Defence’s total engagements with the Australian Department of Defence to over $10 million in the past year. This announcement comes after the company’s initial agreement with the ADF, under which it provided its first directed energy weapon for field testing.
The Fractl Portable High Energy Laser system, included in this contract, is designed to counter drones using directed energy and AI-based tracking. According to the Australian Defence, the Fractl system can burn through steel and track small, fast-moving objects, such as a 10-cent piece moving at 100 km/h from one kilometer away.
This acquisition builds on AIM Defence’s initial delivery of the Fractl unit, which was tested at the Puckapunyal Military Area. These additional units will enhance the ADF’s ability to counter drones in tactical scenarios. The three Fractl systems can operate in a networked configuration, enabling coordinated tracking of a single target or engaging multiple aerial threats. As part of the contract, AIM Defence will also provide maintenance support and deliver future software and hardware upgrades for all Fractl units taken into service.
The Fractl system is remotely operated from a ruggedized case and controlled via a handheld console. AIM Defence will train Army personnel in its safe operation, and feedback from field tests will be used to further refine the system. The device offers various engagement levels: it can dazzle sensors from three kilometers, disable sensors from two kilometers, and achieve a direct “hard kill” at up to one kilometer. Weighing under 99 kilograms, the system can deliver 50 shots per charge at less than 90 cents per shot.
This contract is part of AIM Defence’s ongoing development of directed energy systems, initiated in collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Group in 2019. AIM Defence has gained recognition in international defense circles, winning a $1 million prize at the Canadian International Counter Drone Sandbox competition. Conducted by the Canadian Armed Forces as part of its Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program, this event evaluates counter-drone systems from NATO and Five Eyes countries. AIM Defence’s participation in the competition has attracted interest in the Fractl system from allied nations.
To meet anticipated demand, AIM Defence recently opened a 4,000-square-meter facility in Melbourne to support Fractl system production, staffed by researchers, engineers, and technicians. AIM Defence aims to produce up to 10 Fractl units annually, with plans to expand capacity to over 100 units per year.
Earlier in the year, the initial prototype of the Fractl system was delivered to the ADF for trial evaluations. These trials allowed AIM Defence to demonstrate the system’s capabilities, including millimeter-level tracking accuracy and the ability to neutralize drones at distances of up to 1.5 kilometers. The system has undergone over 200 demonstrations, both indoors and outdoors, in the past two years, which have helped enhance its operational functionality.
The Fractl system was specifically designed to counter the growing drone threat on the battlefield. According to AIM Defence, the system’s targeting precision—enabled by artificial intelligence and advanced laser optics—can track drones traveling at speeds of up to 100 km/h with positional accuracy of +/- 1 millimeter. The Fractl system is housed in a footlocker-sized case and provides a “hard kill” capability for neutralizing drones.