Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems
AAUS is Australia's oldest and largest non-profit peak industry body for uncrewed systems, serving 3,000+ members across operators, manufacturers, government, and academia via tiered memberships, events, accreditation, and regulatory advocacy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersGlen Waverley, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems does
Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems (AAUS) is a non-profit, membership-based industry association incorporated in Victoria, Australia, founded in 2009. It is self-described as Australia's oldest and largest peak industry body for uncrewed systems, representing drones across air, sea, and land domains as well as the emerging Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector. The association's core products are not technology platforms but rather (i) a tiered membership program (Individual, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) covering approximately 3,000+ individual and organizational members, (ii) industry advocacy including submissions to CASA, Airservices Australia, the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Infrastructure on regulatory roadmaps, (iii) the AAUS Drone Industry Accreditation Program (launched January 2025) which recognises operator governance/safety maturity and unlocks discounted insurance via partnerships with Precision Autonomy and QBE, (iv) recurring events such as SkyTech (biennial, run alongside Avalon), the Autonomy in the Joint Military Battlespace conference (alongside Land Forces), and RPAS in Australian Skies, (v) an annual Industry Champion Awards program running since at least 2023, and (vi) an Airservices-funded $25,000 annual UAS Industry Scholarship program.
AAUS operates a classic association business model with four revenue streams: annual membership subscriptions (AUD $34 student to $4,865 platinum organization), event registrations and sponsorships ($370–$890 per delegate), newsletter and homepage advertising (with tiered discounts for higher-tier members), and accreditation program fees. Distribution is entirely direct via the aaus.org.au website (powered by Wild Apricot membership software) and event registration pages. Customer segments span commercial operators and service providers, manufacturers and technology providers, government and defence, academic and research institutions, and large enterprise end users in agriculture, mining, logistics, and emergency services. The organisation is small (1–10 employees) but board-led and volunteer-driven, with a Board of Directors including individual and organizational representatives elected by the membership. AAUS does not develop proprietary technology products, does not have patents, and is not an investable technology asset — its relevance to a PE/VC/M&A audience is as a sector signal: a counterparty, accreditation authority, and policy shaper sitting in front of an Australian drone flight market projected to scale from 1.5 million to 60.4 million annual flights by 2043.
Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems
- Legal name
- Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems Incorporated
- Website
- https://aaus.org.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- AAUS is Australia's oldest and largest non-profit peak industry body for uncrewed systems, serving 3,000+ members across operators, manufacturers, government, and academia via tiered memberships, events, accreditation, and regulatory advocacy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industry Association / Trade Body
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Professional Organizations (813920)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)
Keywords
Where Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glen Waverley
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees ranging from $34 (student) to $4,865 (platinum organization), with tiered pricing for Bronze ($225), Silver ($1,125), and Gold ($2,595) organizational bundles.
- Event Registrations and Sponsorships: Revenue from major conferences including SkyTech 2027, RPAS in Australian Skies, and Autonomy in the Joint Military Battlespace. Event fees range from $370-$890 depending on membership status and event.
- Advertising: Advertising opportunities on the AAUS homepage and in the monthly newsletter 'The AAUS Advocate', with discounted rates for higher-tier members.
- Industry Accreditation Program: Voluntary accreditation program for drone operators providing industry recognition and eligibility for discounted insurance premiums.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual membership for single professionals in the uncrewed systems industry |
| Subscription | Annual | Bronze tier organization membership for up to 2 members |
| Subscription | Annual | Silver tier organization membership for up to 11 members |
| Subscription | Annual | Gold tier organization membership for up to 25 members |
| Subscription | Annual | Platinum tier organization membership with unlimited members |
| Subscription | Annual | Newsletter-only subscription |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | SkyTech 2027 Conference Delegate (Feb 22-23, 2027, Avalon 2027) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Autonomy in the Joint Military Battlespace 2026 (Oct 7, 2026, Perth) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AAUS is Australia's peak industry body for uncrewed systems, operating as a non-profit membership association representing operators, manufacturers, service providers, researchers, and government across drones and Advanced Air Mobility. It sells tiered memberships (Individual, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum), an industry-led drone accreditation program, runs flagship industry conferences (RPAS in Australian Skies, SkyTech, Autonomy in the Joint Military Battlespace), and delivers industry advocacy, networking, insurance access, and annual Industry Champion Awards.
Product overview
AAUS is Australia's peak industry body for uncrewed systems, offering a membership program with tiered organizational and individual options. The organization provides industry advocacy, an accreditation program for professional drone operators, hosts major events (RPAS in Australian Skies, SkyTech, and Autonomy in the Joint Military Battlespace conferences), operates an annual Industry Champion Awards program, and manages a UAS Industry Scholarship in partnership with Airservices Australia. Additional member services include access to industry insurance products, advertising, and educational webinars. AAUS does not offer a software product or technology platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AAUS Membership Program Tiered membership program connecting operators, manufacturers, service providers, researchers, and end users with tiered options (Individual at $113/year, Individual Government/Defence at $84.75, Individual Senior at $56.50, Individual Student at $34; Bronze $225 up to 2 members; Silver $1,125 up to 11 members; Gold $2,595 up to 25 members; Platinum $4,865 unlimited). Benefits include advocacy, events, insurance access, advertising discounts, networking, and event sponsorship opportunities.
- AAUS Drone Accreditation Program Voluntary industry-developed accreditation program for professional drone operators recognising strong governance, safety, and operational maturity. Provides eligibility for discounted insurance premiums through industry partnerships with QBE and Precision Autonomy.
- RPAS in Australian Skies Conference Annual flagship conference for the Australian uncrewed systems industry featuring presentations, panels, and networking opportunities for defence, industry, and academia.
- SkyTech Conference Biennial premier conference for Australia's uncrewed systems industry held in conjunction with the Avalon Australian International Airshow. Explores drones, robotics, and autonomous technologies. Delegate pricing $670-$890 AUD depending on membership status.
- Autonomy in the Joint Military Battlespace Conference Annual conference promoting engagement between defence and defence industry on evolving use of autonomy and uncrewed systems for defence applications. Held in conjunction with Land Forces Exposition in Perth. Delegate pricing $370-$550 AUD.
- AAUS Industry Champion Awards Annual awards program recognizing individuals and organizations contributing to the Australian uncrewed systems industry across categories including Leadership, Innovation - Technology, Innovation - Operations, Education & Safety, Social Impact, Diversity & Inclusion, and NextGen Achievement.
- UAS Industry Scholarship Program Scholarship program in partnership with Airservices Australia (providing $25,000 annually) supporting training and diversity in the uncrewed aircraft systems industry, with awards up to $5,000 per applicant.
- AAUS Industry Advocacy Service Representation and advocacy services for the uncrewed systems sector including regulatory consultation, position papers, government submissions, and engagement on drone policy. AAUS co-chairs CASA's RPAS and AAM Strategic Regulatory Roadmap.
Quantifiable outcome
- 60.4 million projected annual drone flights in Australian skies by 2043, up from 1.5 million in 2023
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Avalon 2027 (Australian International Airshow)coreSkyTech 2027 conference held in conjunction with Avalon 2027. AAUS conference Day 1 in Melbourne CBD (Feb 22), Day 2 at Avalon 2027 event site. Conference registration includes admission to Avalon on Tuesday February 23.
- Land Forces 2026coreAutonomy in the Joint Military Battlespace 2026 conference held as associated conference for Land Forces Exposition at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre (Oct 6-8, 2026). AAUS conference on Wednesday Oct 7 with networking drinks event following.
- Airservices AustraliacoreStrategic partnership with Airservices Australia for industry development. AAUS is part of Airservices' Uncrewed Services Advisory Network (USAN) providing input on FIMS (Flight Information Management System) development. Joint scholarship program: Airservices provides $25,000 annual scholarships in partnership with AAUS to foster participation and diversity in the UAS industry.
- Wild ApricotsupportingMembership management software provider powering AAUS website, membership database, event registrations, and communications. Provides login integration with Google, Microsoft, and Apple accounts.
- Norton WhitesupportingLeading law firm in aerospace, maritime, logistics and tourism. Hosted AAUS networking event in Sydney on drone liability case studies. Regularly advises industry, operators, and insurers on regulatory and liability issues involving aircraft.
- Department of Home AffairscoreAAUS preparing submission on Department of Home Affairs Drone Security Public Consultation Paper 2026. Association advocates for industry input on drone security policy, counter-drone regulations, and balanced enforcement frameworks.
- Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)coreAAUS co-chairs the RPAS and AAM Strategic Regulatory Roadmap with CASA. Active participation in regulatory development, airspace policy, and UTM Action Plan implementation.
- Battery Stewardship CouncilsupportingAAUS joined Battery Stewardship Scheme in 2023 to promote environmental sustainability and responsible e-waste management. Association provides members with resources for proper battery disposal from UAS and AAM systems.
Scale indicators5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Drone Industry Association of Canada (DIAC): DIAC is Canada's national non-profit industry association for commercial drone operators and manufacturers, providing advocacy to Transport Canada, member services, and industry events — a directly comparable regional peak body to AAUS.
- Commercial Drone Alliance: The Commercial Drone Alliance is a US-based industry advocacy group for commercial drone integration, working with the FAA on BVLOS rules, UTM, and policy. It is a directly comparable advocacy-focused trade body serving the same operator/manufacturer constituency as AAUS.
- Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI): AUVSI is the largest US-based non-profit trade association for uncrewed systems and the global analogue to AAUS. Both are membership-driven peak bodies running advocacy, events (e.g., XPONENTIAL), training, and operator accreditation programs for the drone and autonomous systems industry.
- Global UTM Association (GUTMA): GUTMA is a non-profit consortium developing UTM/U-space interoperability standards, with members spanning operators, ANSPs, and manufacturers. AAUS participates in Airservices' Uncrewed Services Advisory Network on FIMS, making GUTMA a natural peer in the standards-and-architecture layer of the uncrewed ecosystem.
- ARPAS-UK: ARPAS-UK is the UK trade association for remotely piloted aircraft systems, offering membership tiers, policy advocacy to the CAA, and industry events. It mirrors AAUS's structure as a national membership body representing commercial RPAS operators and manufacturers to its regulator.
Broad incumbents
- Aerospace Australia Limited: Aerospace Australia is the broader Australian aerospace and aviation peak body covering crewed and uncrewed sectors. AAUS represents the more specialized, drone-only niche within this industry, while Aerospace Australia speaks for the wider aviation manufacturing and services ecosystem.
Others
- EUROCAE: EUROCAE develops international aviation standards including for UAS and U-space, in which AAUS has parallel working-group involvement (RPAS/AAM Regulatory Roadmap with CASA). It is an adjacent enabling standards organization rather than a competing membership body.
- Royal Aeronautical Society - Australian Division: The RAeS Australian Division is a professional society for aerospace engineers and aviation professionals, including RPAS interest groups. It overlaps with AAUS on the professional/standards dimension but focuses on individual professional development rather than commercial operator advocacy.
- Ai Group (Australian Industry Group): Ai Group is a large Australian employer association representing broad industry interests including manufacturing and tech. It is not a direct drone peer but a potential overlapping policy voice and competing source of advocacy for AAUS's manufacturing members.
Regional players
- Drone Alliance Europe: Drone Alliance Europe is a Brussels-based industry group advocating for the European drone and U-space industry to EU institutions. It is a regional peer in the same advocacy-and-policy niche as AAUS, serving a parallel regulatory environment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems social profiles
Digital presenceAustralian Association for Uncrewed Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems
What does Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems do?
AAUS is Australia's peak industry body for uncrewed systems, operating as a non-profit membership association representing operators, manufacturers, service providers, researchers, and government across drones and Advanced Air Mobility. It sells tiered memberships (Individual, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum), an industry-led drone accreditation program, runs flagship industry conferences (RPAS in Australian Skies, SkyTech, Autonomy in the Joint Military Battlespace), and delivers industry advocacy, networking, insurance access, and annual Industry Champion Awards.
Is Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems a public or private company?
Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems founded?
Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems based?
Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems is headquartered in Glen Waverley, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are event Registrations and Sponsorships, advertising and industry Accreditation Program.
Who are Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Drone Industry Association of Canada (DIAC), Commercial Drone Alliance, Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Global UTM Association (GUTMA) and ARPAS-UK. Aerospace Australia Limited is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are EUROCAE, Royal Aeronautical Society - Australian Division and Ai Group (Australian Industry Group). Drone Alliance Europe is listed as a regional player.
Does Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems.
What industry is Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems in?
Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems's product category is Industry Association / Trade Body. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADANAB, Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels. Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.