Australian drone logistics startup Gap Drone said it is interested in putting up an assembly plant for its Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) production in the Philippines as it plans to expand its operations in Asia and other regions.
The Melbourne-based tech company said it plans to enter into a joint venture agreement to make the Philippines one of its assembly plant hubs and possibly an “important entry point” to the Asian market.
“Gap Drone see the Philippines as a strategic location to assemble Gap Drone’s UAS and can serve as an important entry point to other countries in Asia and in the West,” Gap Drone Chief Operating Officer and co-founder Benet Hare said, in a statement.
“More importantly, Gap Drone is fully aware the availability of highly competent English speaking workforce for both non-skilled and skilled in the Philippines. It is truly an exciting year for all us,” he added.
Gap Drone also announced that former Philippine Embassy to Australia press attaché Eduardo Burgos Jr. has been appointed as Gap Drone’s Philippine director.
Gap Drone’s preparation to produce the cutting-edge long-range UAS within 15 months will impact the country’s regional freight delivery as it hopes to begin initial operations flying cargo, produce, parcels, and medical supplies to Australia’s most remote communities.
However, Gap Drone will be marketed not only to the Australian market because it is also being development with regional and rural Australian communities in mind.
“Our drone delivery network will increase regular access to post, produce, and resources for remote Australian communities and First Nations communities, and we will do this while producing up to 85
percent less carbon emissions than traditional road and air delivery transport options,” Gap Drone Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Liesl Haris said.
“We see this as a truly symbiotic relationship and we are proud of the strong backing and high-level partnerships at such an early stage which speak to the strength of our model. Together, we are defining
the future of safe autonomous drone operation capabilities in Australia,” she added.
She also announced the company’s partnership with Swinburne University’s Aerostructures Innovation Research (AIR) Hub, NOVA Systems, and the Federal Government Co-Operative Research Centre program because it will “propel forward our mission to revolutionise freight logistics by 2025.”
“As an Australian-owned company, we are looking to embrace the bountiful expertise, resources, and opportunities that Australia has to offer in the aviation, engineering, and logistics arenas, and put Australian drone technologies on the global map,” she said.
“AIR Hub has given us access to some of the country’s best and brightest in aeronautical engineering, and we are excited to roll out and launch our first prototype, using only the most advanced drone technologies and capabilities, in 2025.”
Gap Drone recently secured equity-free funding from a major Australian partner, but details have not yet been revealed.
It also has Tony Mathews, former chairman of Australia’s aviation regulator CASA, as corporate advisor.
According to revenue impact firm MarketsandMarkets, the Cargo Drones Market is projected to grow to an estimated $9.4 billion in 2030 from $0.6 billion in 2022. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38.6 percemt from 2022 to 2030.