Arkeus to supply hyperspectral sensor for Army surveillance
Arkeus has been selected by the Australian Army to supply its Hyperspectral Optical Radar (HSOR) for the Wide Area Airborne Surveillance (WAAS) Programme.
The decision follows a global tender process in which the Australian Army assessed advanced sensing technologies from a range of international providers. Arkeus, an Australian technology firm specialising in AI-powered autonomous optical sensing systems, will integrate its HSOR solution with the Army's Tactical Uncrewed Aerial Systems (TUAS).
Selection process
The selection came after a rigorous evaluation of hyperspectral Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) sensors designed to address operational limitations found in traditional electro-optical and long-wave infrared (EO/LWIR) systems. The HSOR was developed under successive Australian Defence contracts and aims to provide persistent detection and classification across complex operational environments.
The Wide Area Airborne Surveillance initiative is managed by the Land Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare (LISREW) division within Army Headquarters. Its main objective is to enhance wide-area ISR coverage and enable improved decision-making across the TUAS platform.
Integration of the HSOR into the Army's surveillance platforms is expected to bolster situational awareness and extend operational effectiveness, benefiting reconnaissance, targeting, and manoeuvre operations.
Capabilities of HSOR
The HSOR sensor distinguishes itself from conventional optical payloads by enabling real-time, wide-area hyperspectral ISR capabilities. This approach supports persistent detection even in environments that challenge traditional systems, such as those with degraded visibility or complex terrain.
"Our customer needs capability that delivers an effect across challenging and degraded visual environments," said Simon Olsen, CEO of Arkeus. "Throughout this process, HSOR has consistently demonstrated its ability to perform where conventional optical systems struggle. We are honoured to support the Australian Army in delivering a decisive ISR edge."
The enhancement of ISR capability through the Army's adoption of the HSOR builds on previous deployments and demonstrations with other defence customers. Arkeus has previously demonstrated the HSOR in multiple operational contexts with the US Department of War.
Investment backing
Arkeus receives support from several prominent deep tech investment funds in Australia, including Main Sequence, Salus Ventures, and Beaten Zone Ventures. This backing underscores industry confidence in the firm's technology development and its contribution to defence capability enhancement.
The company specialises in the rapid design and deployment of autonomous optical capabilities for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance applications. Its systems are used in a range of missions including border protection, force protection, illegal activity monitoring, and search and rescue operations across land, sea, and space domains. The core focus remains on extracting critical intelligence in contested or challenging environments and disseminating that data effectively to users in the field.
The partnership with the Australian Army for the WAAS Programme is viewed as a continuation of Arkeus's work in accelerating decision-making through the use of optical-autonomous fusion.
Arkeus's HSOR system will be integrated to deliver wide-area surveillance, extra detection capability, and increased mission effectiveness for the Australian Army's uncrewed aerial assets.
