*** Download vision of drone patrols and interview with RPAS Operations Superintendent Brendan Kosmer here and stills here
The Australian Border Force (ABF) has deployed Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) to Operation LUNAR in the Northern Territory to help combat illegal foreign fishing.
The addition of drones enhances surveillance capabilities as they provide greater range across patrol areas that are difficult or dangerous to access by traditional methods due to thick vegetation such as mangroves, fast moving or shallow water such as tidal creeks, and predatory animals such as crocodiles.
Operating with advanced optics and sensors, the drones can be flown by both day and night, providing real-time vision that helps ABF officers identify illegal fishing activity, abandoned camps and equipment hiding spots.
The deployment is part of a broader RPAS rollout across northern Australia, which includes recent integration into Operation LEEDSTRUM in the Kimberley Marine Park, Western Australia.
RPAS complement existing enforcement measures to protect Australia's maritime resources, which include aerial surveillance, patrol boats, land patrols and community engagement.
Operation LUNAR Commander Alex Kelsall said the drones add a valuable layer to ABF's existing enforcement network.
"Illegal foreign fishers should not assume remote mangroves or hidden creeks will shield them from detection. Drones give our officers greater reach and situational awareness, but they are also only one part of a broader network of solutions that includes our partnerships with Indigenous ranger groups, local communities, and other agencies, working alongside our land, air and sea patrols," Commander Kelsall said.
RPAS Operations Superintendent Brendan Kosmer said drone technology is already proving its value.
"It's about a smarter approach using innovative technology, not replacing existing patrols. RPAS enhances officer safety and efficiency by allowing us to monitor inaccessible areas and gather intelligence without putting crews at risk," SUPT Kosmer said.
Established in December 2024, Operation LUNAR is a multi-agency taskforce led by the ABF to combat illegal foreign fishing in the NT.
Operation LUNAR complements Operation LEEDSTRUM, which has been working successfully since December 2023 in the Kimberley Marine Park in Western Australia, and the long-running Border Monitoring Officer Program operating in the Torres Strait.
