Orbital UAV wins SME of the Year award
Orbital UAV has been named SME of the Year (Metropolitan) at the 2020 Defence Connect Australian Defence Industry Awards.
Now in their second year, the Australian Defence Industry Awards is a leading awards program created to reflect the role of the defence industry as a fundamental input to Australia’s capability.
The SME of the Year award recognises the company that has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s defence and national security capabilities.
“We’re delighted to win the SME of the Year award,” said Todd Alder, CEO and Managing Director of Orbital UAV. “Taking out this category is deserved recognition of the progress we have made against our strategy over the past 12 months as we continue to build our position and reputation within the defence industry.
“Despite its obvious challenges, 2020 has been an incredibly positive year for Orbital UAV. We now have multiple engine models in production for our key customer Boeing Insitu, we have increased our defence prime customer base, and we delivered $33.8 million in revenue in FY20 – the top end of our guidance,” he said.
During 2020, Orbital UAV was designated primary engine supplier to Insitu, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Boeing Company. Primary supplier status will increase Orbital UAV’s share of Insitu designed engine orders and provides the Company with opportunities to increase production volumes under its existing long term agreement.
The Company also announced new engine development contracts with Northrop Grumman and one of Singapore’s largest defence companies – work which is currently underway.
“Unmanned aerial vehicles continue to increase in strategic value for Defence. As we have seen from the Australian Government’s Force Structure Plan 2020, there will be significant expenditure in this area in the coming years and Orbital UAV stands ready to support with its sovereign industrial capability,” said Mr Alder.