Sydney, Jan 15, 2026, 17:59 AEDT — After-hours
- DroneShield announced in an after-market ASX release that it had been chosen for the Defence LAND 156 Line of Effort 3 panel
- After the update at 4:37 p.m., shares climbed 2.8% to close at A$4.08.
- Attention now turns to whether panel status will convert into actual orders before the Feb. 24 results
Shares of DroneShield Ltd climbed on Thursday after the ASX-listed counter-drone equipment maker announced it had been selected for the Australian Defence Force’s LAND 156 Line of Effort 3 (LoE 3) panel. The stock finished 2.77% higher at A$4.08, up from A$3.97 at the previous close, with the news coming at 4:37 p.m. local time. DroneShield is set to release its annual and preliminary results on Feb. 24, per its corporate calendar. 1
The timing is crucial since the update came after the cash session closed, forcing traders to gear up for Friday’s open. Panel selection tends to be a slow burner for defence stocks, yet it usually refocuses attention on contract pipelines and delivery timelines.
LAND 156 plays a key role in Canberra’s drive to speed up the Australian Defence Force’s procurement of drone and counter-drone systems. An initial round of contracts has already been handed out to several vendors.
A panel is basically a pre-qualified list of suppliers. It helps agencies streamline placing work down the line, but it doesn’t equate to a firm order or guaranteed income.
DroneShield made waves on the regulatory front this week. A notice filed Wednesday revealed a shareholder stepping down as a substantial holder, one of several disclosures that often shake up short-term trades in smaller defence tech names.
On Thursday, the stock hovered close to its peak for the day at A$4.10, bouncing back from an earlier low of A$3.86, based on delayed quotes from InvestSMART’s Intelligent Investor service.
Investors are watching to see if the LAND 156 panel slot leads to immediate orders or just serves as a credential while Defence sorts through testing and procurement. Usually, the real clue comes from the announcements that follow, not the initial one.
There’s a risk scenario to watch. Defence procurement timelines can extend, budgets may be reallocated, and panel suppliers continue battling over price, delivery, and performance. Delays in moving to purchase orders could leave investors riding momentum vulnerable if overall risk appetite wanes.
All eyes are on DroneShield to see if it will offer more specifics on the scope and timing of LAND 156 ahead of its February 24 report. Investors will be watching closely to judge if contract developments match the high expectations priced into the shares.
