How did a mosquito killer company become Australia’s most valuable defence company?
DroneShield, Australia’s most valuable listed defence company, started with a surprising idea: a laser system to zap mosquitoes in bedrooms. Today, just over a decade later, it has become a global leader in counter-drone technology. Strong demand from militaries, airports, and prisons has pushed its stock up more than four times this year, making it the top performer on the S&P/ASX 200 index.
From tiny bugs to drones
The company was founded in Virginia, USA, in 2014 by researchers Brian Hearing and John Franklin. They originally made a system that could detect mosquitoes for targeted laser strikes. Spotting a bigger opportunity, they adapted it to detect small drones, focusing on military customers. Australian CEO Oleg Vornik later brought the company to Australia. At first, governments were unsure about the drone threat, but the security landscape changed fast.
Global conflicts boost demand
DroneShield is now valued at A$2.9 billion, overtaking shipbuilder Austal as Australia’s largest listed defence firm. Wars and attacks, such as in Ukraine and by Houthi forces on commercial ships, have shown how dangerous small drones can be. European defence spending has grown, with systems sold to Polish clients sent to Ukrainian soldiers.
The company’s counter-drone solutions serve militaries, law enforcement at big events, and prisons that want to stop drones carrying weapons or drugs.
Cutting-edge drone defence
While the “drone gun” is its best-known product, DroneShield’s tech goes further. Its systems use Radio Frequency sensing, Electronic Warfare, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) to detect even drones that have never been seen before.
Expanding worldwide
DroneShield works with partners in over 70 countries and has deals with security agencies and militaries in more than 40 nations, including the US, Canada, and France. With sales rising, it is expanding its Sydney factory and planning new production partnerships in the US and Europe.