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Australian-owned and operated · Threat Representation · Threat Emulation

Credible uncrewed threats for tests, trials and training.

Lyrebird Defence replicates how today’s threats look and behave, so your sensors, systems and people face the real thing in tests, trials and training. Built from open-source reporting, kept current as threats evolve, and ready for your range.

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Illustrative behaviours for the same vehicle (in the air, on land or at sea) as FAKER (hostile), JOKER (ambiguous) and NEUTRAL (benign) RANGE BOUNDARY TARGET BREAK-OFF INGRESSAPPROACHTERMINAL RUN TRANSITLOITERPROBEWITHDRAW STEADY TRANSIT, STEADY SPEEDNEVER APPROACHES
FAKER Hostile: heads for the target and makes its final attack run, then turns away before reaching it. It behaves the same way in the air, on land or at sea.
Illustrative silhouettes of uncrewed threats in each domain: a one-way attack drone overhead, an armed uncrewed ground vehicle on land and an explosive uncrewed surface vessel at sea AIR · LAND · SEA
What we do

Two halves of a credible threat.

Shahed attack drones and Magura sea drones are built to be expendable, and that’s what makes them hard to beat. Your systems should face the same: threats that look right, behave right and suit how you use them, whether that’s again and again or shot down for real. Lyrebird Defence represents what the threat is and emulates what it does, cost-effectively, so you can run, reset and repeat until your people and systems get it right. Every threat is built against the measures you have to meet, so your results stand up as evidence.

Threat Representation

What a threat is

How the threat looks to your people and sensors, with only as much realism as the job needs.

  1. Info packA digital fact card, drawings from three angles and a printable recognition sheet showing the key features to look for.
  2. SilhouetteA full-size, flat outline of the threat: a mat laid out on the ground, or a rigid panel that can stand up or be mounted on something that moves.
  3. ReplicaA full-size 3D model of the threat, made to be seen, detected and shot at. Built tough to reuse or cheap to destroy, depending on the job. It can't fly, drive or sail by itself, so you carry it on a drone, a vehicle or a target platform to move it however you need.
  4. MimicA Replica that fools sensors as well as eyes: its materials and design are adjusted so it gives off the same heat, radar reflection and sound as the real threat. Like the Replica, it doesn't move by itself. In development.
  5. LyrebirdA full-size uncrewed vehicle (UAS, UGV or USV) built as a Replica or Mimic that also moves like the real threat, using its Behaviour Profiles. The only level that both looks and acts like the real thing. In development.Runs on Lyrebird mission software →

Digital items unlock in your customer portal as soon as your purchase order is recorded; Silhouettes, Replicas and Lyrebirds are made and delivered.

Threat Emulation

What a threat does

Threat Behaviour Profiles make an uncrewed vehicle move the way the real threat does, in the air, on land or at sea: how it approaches, its speed, height or direction, and how it attacks. Each one is ready to run on your range.

  1. Operator briefStep-by-step instructions (speeds, heights or directions, and when to change them) for a person to fly, drive or steer by hand.
  2. Mission profileA ready-made mission file to import into your ground control station (GCS), such as QGroundControl or Mission Planner; the vehicle's autopilot does the rest.
  3. Simulator exportThe same behaviour in your computer simulator, matching what runs on the range. Rehearse before the day, scale up to waves and swarms, and repeat runs as often as you like.
  4. Evidence planEach behaviour is linked to the measures and objectives you have to meet, so every run, live or simulated, produces evidence that you meet them. Industry can prove its results to defence, and defence can use the same threat as the test it sets industry.
  5. Lyrebird mission softwarePlan the run on a map of your range, load it onto a Lyrebird or your own vehicle, then launch it and follow it live. It records exactly where the threat went, how fast and when (the “truth data”) and scores your system against your Evidence plan. In development.← Brings a Lyrebird to life

Run it on your own uncrewed vehicles or on a Lyrebird; there’s more on Lyrebird mission software below. Every behaviour turns away before reaching its target; none completes an attack.

Both halves together

Lyrebird what it is + Lyrebird mission software what it does = a threat that looks and acts like the real thing, with evidence against your requirements, in the air, on land or at sea.

Track identities

Hostile, ambiguous and harmless, from the same vehicle.

Behaviours are written for the three roles used in military exercises (hostile, ambiguous and harmless), so you can test spotting and stopping a threat, deciding what to do when the picture isn’t clear, and avoiding false alarms.

  • FAKERActs as hostile. Tests detection, classification and the engagement chain.
  • JOKERActs suspiciously. Tests identification and decision-making when the picture isn’t clear.
  • NEUTRALHarmless traffic. Tests that you don’t raise false alarms or react to the wrong thing.
Lyrebird mission software · in development

Turn an uncrewed vehicle into the threat, then prove the result.

We're building mission software that puts the Threat Library on your range for tests, trials and training, in the air, on land and at sea. Use a Lyrebird or your own UAS, UGV or USV (carrying a Replica if you want it to look the part), load a Behaviour Profile, and the vehicle acts as that threat: how it approaches, its speed, height or direction, and how it attacks. Every run is recorded and scored against your Evidence plan.

Illustration of the mapping interface: a course plotted on a range, with numbered waypoints, phases and a break-off before the target YOUR RANGE 1234 TARGET LAUNCHINGRESSAPPROACHTERMINALBREAK-OFF BEHAVIOURShahed-136 class · FAKER4 WAYPOINTS · BREAK-OFF SET
Illustration. The mapping interface is in development.
Map your range

Plot the course, set the behaviour

A mapping interface for your own range: mark the target and boundaries, plot the course the threat will take, and set how it behaves along the way.

Your vehicle or a Lyrebird

Load it, launch it, track it

Load the behaviour onto your own uncrewed vehicle or a Lyrebird we supply and set up. Launch it and follow it live while your sensors, systems and people deal with the threat. It still turns away before reaching its target.

Evidence

Score it, prove it

Every run records where the threat actually was, how fast it was going and when (the “truth data”). Compare that with what your systems reported, score it against the measures in your Evidence plan, and keep the result as evidence.

  1. Map your rangeLoad a map of your site and mark the target and the boundaries.
  2. Design the coursePlot where the threat comes from and how it approaches.
  3. Pick the behaviourChoose a behaviour from the Threat Library, linked to the measures you have to meet.
  4. LaunchOn your own vehicle or a Lyrebird.
  5. Track it liveWatch the threat move and compare it with what your systems report.
  6. Prove itScore what your systems saw against what really happened, and keep it as evidence.

In development. Ask us about early access.

Who it's for

For anyone who has to prove they can see, decide and act against uncrewed threats.

Defence

From testing equipment to buying it: put your defences up against threats that look and behave like the ones in use today, the same way every time, so results can be compared from one run to the next. Then use the same threats as the test you set industry.

Defence industry

Anyone whose equipment has to hold up on the modern battlefield, from platforms and protection to sensors, effectors, C2 and communications. Develop, test and demonstrate it against the uncrewed threats it will meet in the air, on land and at sea, including the harmless traffic it must ignore, then prove your results to your customer.

Training establishments

Train people to recognise, report and react to current threats, from recognition sheets in the classroom to Lyrebirds acting out the threat on the range, with evidence that they meet the standard.

Infrastructure, police and major events

Check that installed systems detect and identify real threats and leave lawful air traffic alone, with the evidence to show it.

Ranges and target providers

Offer realistic threats to everyone who uses your range for tests, trials and training: Silhouettes, Replicas and Lyrebirds built to be reused or to be shot at and destroyed, with the evidence your customers need.

How to buy

Choose a plan, then do the rest yourself.

Annual

Library subscription

Your organisation’s portal account, Info packs and Behaviour Profiles for the threats you choose or the whole library, and every update through the year.

Multi-year

Programme

A subscription plus an agreed number of Silhouettes, Replicas and Lyrebirds and range support, delivered as you need them over two to three years.

One-off

Single project

Everything for one test, trial or training event, from the threats to their Behaviour Profiles. A minimum order value applies.

In development

Range day

We bring Lyrebirds and the mission software and run the threat on your range. Booked by the day, with a minimum booking.

  1. Choose a planTell us which plan fits and we’ll quote it. Not sure? Request a briefing and we’ll help you choose.
  2. Get your accountYour purchase order sets up your organisation’s customer portal account, and digital items unlock straight away.
  3. Choose and checkIn the portal, pick your threats, how real each needs to be and how it should behave, and check it all against your range.
  4. On your rangeSilhouettes, Replicas and Lyrebirds are made and delivered, and behaviours run on your own uncrewed vehicles or on Lyrebirds.

Plans are annual, multi-year or per project. Pricing and lead times on request.

Example scenarios

What it could look like on your range.

Four examples of how the pieces come together in tests, trials and training: one for each domain, and all three at once. Each uses threats from the library, comes with an Evidence plan, and runs at a safe distance: every behaviour turns away before reaching its target.

BASE Air

A one-way attack salvo against a base

Shahed-136 · Shahed-238 · Gerbera-class decoys

  • FAKERWaves from several bearings
  • JOKERDecoys among the waves
  • NEUTRALLight aircraft traffic
Info packSilhouetteReplica under a droneLyrebird

MeasuredDetection range, telling decoys from threats, engagement priority, time to engage

POSITIONFPVROBOT Land

Attack quadcopters and ground robots against a defended position

First-person-view (FPV) attack quadcopters, radio and fibre-optic controlled · small tracked attack robots · heavy bomber multirotors

  • FAKERQuadcopter dives, and robots creeping along cover
  • NEUTRALHobby and commercial quadcopters nearby
Info packSilhouetteReplica on a vehicleLyrebird drone and ground robot

MeasuredDetecting threats that don't emit radio, ground clutter, reaction time

HARBOUR Maritime

Sea drones against a harbour

Magura V5 · Sea Baby · converted small craft · Toloka-class underwater drone

  • FAKERHigh-speed runs at the harbour
  • JOKERSmall craft loitering
  • NEUTRALFishing and pleasure craft
Info packReplica on a target boatLyrebird sea drone

MeasuredRadar and camera detection in sea clutter, identifying small craft, response time

AIRLANDSEA COASTAL BASE Multi-domain · in development

A coordinated attack from air, land and sea

Shahed-class one-way attack drones · FPV quadcopters · attack ground robots · Magura-class sea drones · Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone

  • FAKERSimultaneous attacks from every domain
  • JOKERReconnaissance drone spotting overhead
  • NEUTRALCivil shipping and air traffic
Info packReplicaLyrebird drone, ground robot and sea droneLyrebird mission software

MeasuredCross-domain cueing and track handover, engagement priority under saturation, time to engage

Request a briefing to build a scenario around your own tests, trials or training.

Safety and security

Safe on the range, secure off it.

Always turns away before the target

Every behaviour ends by turning away to safety. None completes an attack.

Fenced to your range

Every mission carries your range boundary as a geofence, with return to launch if it's crossed. A mission can’t be exported until its safety checks pass.

Open source only

Built only from public, open-source information, so your whole team can use it without handling classified material.

Your organisation only

Each customer's orders and files are sealed off from every other organisation, and every sign-in needs a code from an authenticator app.

Australian-owned and operated

Lyrebird Defence is an Australian company, owned and run in Australia, working with Australian Defence, industry and partners.

Request a briefing

Put a credible threat on your range.

Tell us a little about your tests, trials or training, and the measures you have to meet, and we'll set up a briefing.

Request a briefing contact@lyrebirddefence.com

Please don't send classified or sensitive site details by email.

Coming soon Lyrebird Defence is preparing for launch. Request a briefing for early access.