The scale of the threat extends well beyond the conventional battlespace and now includes civil infrastructure anywhere in the country. Just as Russia is targeting Ukrainian schools, hospitals, and the power grid, so Kyiv is hitting Russia’s energy infrastructure—oil exports are funding the invasion—in addition to strictly military targets. This has pushed both countries into evolving their air defense systems to be able to deal with these new threats. Ukraine has had notably more success in protecting itself, though large gaps remain, and a role in that effort has been played by Canberra-based EOS through the supply of numerous Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) carrying sensors and autocannons.
EOS has also developed high-powered laser systems and has sold units to the Netherlands in August 2025 under a contract worth around $125 million, and more recently to South Korea. As well as developing two very powerful effectors in the form of lasers and gun systems, the company has now moved into the provision of entire anti-drone solutions based on the acquisition of specialist C2 supplier MARSS. MARSS started from humble beginnings in 2006, providing short-range anti-drone systems for high-value commercial targets such as superyachts. This rapidly evolved into defending critical energy infrastructure such as Saudi Arabia’s refineries that suffered a devastating Houthi drone and missile attack on September 14, 2019, which cut the country’s oil production by 50%.
At the heart of MARSS is proprietary software called NiDAR, which EOS CEO Dr. Andreas Schwer explained contains an Artificial Intelligence (AI) core that allows it to evaluate threat detections from multiple sensors and assign appropriate countermeasures faster than a human operator could manage. AI is a critical ingredient for defeating large numbers of fast incoming targets approaching from multiple directions.
Previously, EOS has used proprietary software for some of its stand-alone anti-drone products such as Taranis—which combines radar, electro-optic, and EW information with laser and cannon countermeasures—but these are for point defense applications. The beauty of NiDAR is that it is networked and scalable, meaning the company is now able to provide broad area defense, so long as enough sensors and effectors are available. It also means that while EOS is more than capable of providing an entire turnkey system, if a customer instead wants to use their own radar or weapon, these can be integrated without risk. According to Dr. Schwer, this flexibility is sometimes offered by some of the world’s largest defense equipment suppliers, but now EOS can provide a better performing system at a far lower price.
The Australian part of EOS will continue to focus on RWS deliveries, most significantly for a $108 million contract awarded in October 2024 by Hanwha Defence Australia. These will equip tracked Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles being built for the Army under LAND 400 Phase 3.
