Inside the Tauranga drone company with a $66m UK defence contract
Inside are workers developing some of the world's most technologically sophisticated and revolutionary modes of transport.
It's the head quarters of Syos Aerospace, a drone manufacturer that has just signed contracts with the UK's Ministry of Defence worth $66.8 million dollars.
Syos Aerospace CEO and founder Samuel Vye spoke to Q+A the day before he left to the UK for the announcement of the deal. While he was unable to divulge the details of the deal, he was happy to talk about the work of his robotics company.
The Tauranga warehouse is Syos's development and research hub. The prototypes are trialled in New Zealand but manufactured in a facility South East of London. UAV's or unmanned aerial vehicles make up the bulk of the work but Syos has also developed, long range uncrewed vessels, helicopters and ground vehicles.
Inside their headquarters, an array of aerial drones and parts sit on long work benches. It's the weekend so not many technicians are in but in an adjoining area, an engineering is fine tuning the rotor on an uncrewed helicopter.
There are impressive display prototypes in a showroom area. One of them, a missile shaped drone, with retro Thunderbirds vibes, has one role, Samuel Vye explained; to shoot other drones out of the sky.
The robotics company has been supplying the British Ministry of Defence with drones and won contracts with other customers up against some of the world's biggest aero-space companies.
When Q+A asked Vye about why a small Bay of Plenty robotics company is becoming a go-to drone manufacturer, he replied: 'It's not about the specific drone."
"It's about the capability that Syos Aerospace has in rapidly developing the next drone that's needed by the customer. So we're always horizon scanning what the future looks like so at the drop of a hat we can spend six weeks and rapidly develop the next drone systems that a customer might currently need."
He told Q+A that it would be keen to bid for contracts when the New Zealand Ministry of Defence puts out tenders for drone supply. The Ministry's recently released Defence Capability Plan indicates it has between $200 million and $450m to spend on drones for maritime and security surveillance and combat.
At a UK military base this last week, Vye and his team presented the company's latest drone technology to British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
The British Prime Minister made special mention of Syos in when announcing a new UK and NZ defence co-operation agreement. Starmer confirmed that the drone deal with Syos would support Ukraine.
Back in Tauranga, the Syos CEO answers questions about how their drones may be used in war.
'We don't stick weapons on any of our drone systems.'
'So we stay away from that controversial subject so all our systems are set up as surveillance, cargo systems to be multi role, multi use by our customers.'
On the question of whether the drones provide a platform to be armed, Vye said: "I guess a Toyota Hilux provides a platform to be armed."
The systems developed by Syos have a wide range of applications beyond conflict zones. There's a race on to produce long range aerial drones and USVs, unmanned surface vehicles; boats that can surveille and patrol the far reaches of New Zealand's massive EEZ. Other systems can be used for conservation work, fire fighting and search and rescue. Vye said the world will soon look very different.
'Imagine numerous swarming drone systems in the sky, on the ground, in the sea.
"The low cost, high volume, mass application of drones is really the future."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
1News
16 hours ago
- 1News
Warnings of dramatic increase in 'hidden homeless'
Lifewise chief executive Haehaetu Barrett told Q+A's Maiki Sherman that extensive homelessness is now becoming a new normal, particularly among those who are either living on the streets or sleeping in their cars. "It has unfortunately become the look for Aotearoa, and not just in Tāmaki, Rotorua, Wellington, who hit the spotlight," said Barrett. "Last week we were contacted from the North Shore [of Auckland] Never in ten years has the city Lifewise been contacted from the North Shore that there was visible homelessness. So this tells us that the numbers aren't just central city anymore." She added that various policies aimed at addressing homelessness had not worked, including the use of motels by the Ministry of Social Development, and in some cases had made situations worse by re-traumatising homeless people. ADVERTISEMENT Barrett said Lifewise had warned at the beginning of that policy that housing people in motels for longer than three months would make it very difficult to then transition people out again. "It was too rushed – it was a time of reaction rather than response, and the suffering we see today is actually a result of how that wasn't managed appropriately." She criticised some of the motels and social service providers who participated in the policy, who in Barrett's opinion saw it as a chance to make quick money. "Longstanding providers could see the risk, but the newer providers kind of went for the gold. And unfortunately the whānau today, who are still experiencing the same trauma as when they went into the motels, is what we're all visibly seeing today in the streets." "The moteliers, out of all of that, they made the gold, they made the cash. Of course they were heavily funded by the government." The government recently announced they had hit their target of dramatically reducing the number of people living in motels five years ahead of schedule. Alternative accommodation has been found for a majority of those moved on from motels. But Barrett believes that has contributed to an increase in the number of people rough-sleeping, and in many cases people are no longer engaged with social service providers. ADVERTISEMENT "If you look at the stats we have – our data right now for Tāmaki is more than 700 sleeping rough in the streets. But there are hidden homeless – well hidden. So the data only comes when they come in to access services.' "Most of the numbers that we know are out there don't come in and access, and we only know about them by word of mouth." "So when I hear the targets have been met, you have to ask how and where. Because our numbers in the community context are heightening." Haehaetu Barrett recently announced her resignation as Lifewise chief executive, after 15 years with the organisation in various roles. She will be participating later this week in Lifewise's Big Sleepout, which the organisation has brought back this year to raise awareness of homelessness issues after suspending it at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand On Air
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Prince William like ‘just another guy': NZ inventor
Orepuki eco-farming inventor Grant Lightfoot has taken his edible bale netting to the world — including British royalty. Mr Lightfoot introduced his award-winning eco invention to Prince William during the prince's surprise visit to the United Kingdom's regenerative agriculture festival; Groundswell, this week. A festival official had organised for Prince William to stop at Mr Lightfoot's stall because he was the stall holder that had travelled the furthest. After a quick chat with one of the prince's team, who had already heard about the edible bale netting, Mr Lightfoot stood at his stall ready for the prince's arrival. "I had my card in my hand and my brochure ready ... " However, after speaking on stage, the prince headed off in another direction. "He had six security guards, and the crowd. There was just thousands of people around. And me being me, I just bee-lined for him and stopped him. And before the security guys could get a word in, I started talking about my edible bail net. The prince, as the eldest son of the reigning British monarch, inherited the Duke of Cornwall title and estates, becoming custodian of 52,172ha of land across 19 counties. Orepuki farmer and Kiwi Econet inventor Grant Lightfoot met Prince William this week during the prince's surprise visit to the UK's regenerative agriculture festival, Groundswell. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED Mr Lightfoot invited the prince to see the eco-friendly bale net. "It was so funny. Everyone just [did] a complete U-turn and came straight over to see me and my bail." During a brief chat with the prince, he explained the benefits of the wrap and how it could be eaten by stock animals and saved the environment. "I spoke to him like he was just another guy, and he spoke to me the same way. He took my business card, my brochure and said, 'we'll be in contact'." A video taken of the meeting and shared on social media platforms had gone viral, Mr Lightfoot said. Two days before Groundswell, the Southland farmer decided on an unscheduled early morning stopover at Jeremy Clarkson's Diddley Squat farm. But he initially took a wrong turn into Mr Clarkson's neighbour's property. "So, I went up there and got talking to the film guy — they were just about to start filming. "He said, 'you know you're trespassing, blah blah blah'. "I said, 'no, I didn't know that. I thought I'd just drive up and say g'day." "Once I told him who I was, the attitude changed." Orepuki farmer Grant Lightfoot talks to Prince William about his product. They had already heard about the product through social media. The show's producer expressed an interest in featuring Kiwi Econet on Mr Clarkson's show sometime in the future. Mr Lightfoot, who had been travelling through Europe promoting the product, is continuing his promotional tour in the United States before returning to Southland. The new product had made "the world an oyster", he said. "People cannot believe what I've got, because everyone hates plastic." Farmers already producing baleage were able to use their existing machinery. "So that's another big bonus as well." He had fielded global inquiries, including from Switzerland, Europe and Chile, and expects to be able to meet demand. The edible bale netting, made of jute yarn, is manufactured and shipped from India. — Toni McDonald
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
New Space Squadron For NZDF
Hon Judith Collins KC Minister of Defence The Royal New Zealand Air Force has established its first dedicated space unit with the reactivation of the No. 62 Squadron today, Defence Minister Judith Collins says. 'This reflects our commitment to protecting New Zealand's interests and security in the rapidly evolving space domain,' Ms Collins says. 'Space is vital for modern life. We rely on space-based infrastructure for a range of critical services, from weather observation to financial transactions. 'This is an important signal that we're taking space security seriously.' No. 62 Squadron was reactivated at a formal ceremony at RNZAF Base Auckland today. Originally active during World War II, the squadron supported Allied operations through the innovative use of radar technology. Now, its mission shifts to space domain awareness. 'The squadron's initial focus will be on monitoring, analysing, and understanding space activity to safeguard national and international interests,' Ms Collins says. 'Recent global developments have highlighted the need for resilient, advanced defence capabilities. This move is part of the work the New Zealand Defence Force is doing to maintain a combat-capable, flexible force.' The reactivation supports the recent Defence Capability Plan which outlined $12 billion of planned commitments to upgrade the Defence Force over the next four years.
