Avalon 2025 Wrap-Up

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The Avalon Australian International Airshow 2025 has drawn to a close after six thrilling days, cementing its status as the Southern Hemisphere’s premier aerospace and defence event. With record-breaking industry participation, electrifying public air displays, and groundbreaking innovations on show, Avalon 2025 once again lived up to its tagline: No Show Like the Airshow.

More than 60,000 professionals attended the Trade Days (25-28 March), with the total event attendance topping 200,000.

A staggering 902 exhibitor organisations from 28 nations participated, alongside 291 high-profile delegations from 43 countries, including 20 Chiefs of Air Force and equivalent representatives.

With diesel vehicles accounting for 30% to 50% of greenhouse emissions at a mine site, replacing them with a battery-electric fleet is a sure way to drastically reduce overall CO₂ emissions, but how else can mines benefit from this technology?

Leading underground manufacturers Normet believe the answer lies with SmartDrive. This architecture for battery electric vehicles (BEV) was developed in collaboration with customers, building on feedback, predicting future trends, and assessing the limitations of diesel engines, and comes with a wealth of benefits for operators.

Avalon 2025 continued to serve as a launchpad for cutting-edge technology, with the Innovation Pitchfest and Awards providing a stage for breakthrough ideas. Judges praised the exceptionally high calibre of entries, with 23 finalists competing for prizes.

Four winners emerged, securing a combined $130,000 in funding to propel their innovations forward:

Avalon 2025 Innovation Award: Herve Aster, Neumann Space
Avalon 2025 Young Innovator Award: Edward Robinson, Robinson Aerospace
Avalon 2025 Emerging Technology Award: Nishq Ravindranath, Akula Tech Pty Ltd
Avalon 2025 Blue Sky Thinking Award: Clem Newton-Brown, Skyportz

With 65 conferences, symposia, and presentations covering everything from aerospace engineering to uncrewed aerial systems and space technology, Avalon 2025 reaffirmed its role as a critical hub for knowledge exchange. Events such as the 21st Australian International Aerospace Congress (AIAC21), Southern Space Conference, and AAUS SkyTech 2025 hosted global experts, discussing the future of aviation, defence, and space exploration.

Airbus and Drone Forge Team Up to Launch Flexrotor in Asia‑Pacific
Airbus has teamed up with Australian start‑up Drone Forge to commercialise the Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system across Asia‑Pacific. The mission-proven VTOL drone offers extended endurance and minimal footprint, targeting defence, security, and commercial applications. A new UAS service hub in Perth will support regional deployment and operations.

Bombardier Defense Confirms Sale of Two Challenger 650 Aircraft for ISR Missions
Bombardier Defense announced the sale of two Challenger 650 aircraft to Australia’s Principle Finance. The jets will be configured for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, with delivery planned for 2026. The announcement is yet another signal of Bombardier’s continued expansion into the Australian and wider Asia-Pacific defence market.

Bushmaster Gets Cutting-Edge Counter-Drone Upgrade
Thales Australia and Dedrone by Axon have successfully added on-the-move counter-drone tech to the iconic Bushmaster vehicle. Tested in battlefield-like conditions near Bendigo, the system proved it can detect and defeat drones while in motion—marking a major leap in capability for one of Australia’s most trusted military platforms.

Hanwha and Visionary Machines Sign MoU on Advanced Sensing Integration
Hanwha Defence Australia, Hanwha Systems, and Visionary Machines signed an MoU at Avalon 2025 to explore integrating Visionary Machines’ passive 3D spatial sensing technology into Hanwha’s defence platforms. The collaboration will assess applications in autonomy, counter-UAS, and situational awareness, aiming to enhance sovereign capability and supply chain resilience across Australia and South Korea.

As the aerospace industry continues to evolve, Avalon remains a pivotal event for showcasing innovation, fostering collaboration, and inspiring future generations. We now look ahead to 2027, when Avalon will once again bring together the brightest minds and most advanced technologies to shape the future of aviation and defence.