Autonomous flight takes off

By FLTLT Natasha Silver 3 min read
On 20 May 2026, Jericho Disruptive Innovation’s Project Camel Train conducted a test flight of its JabX autonomous aerial system by flying from Brisbane Queensland to Cultana South Australia. Project Camel Train is Jericho’s concept for autonomous aerial logistics. It includes short‑range precision delivery to long‑range platforms that can carry much heavier cargo.
The JabX autonomous aerial system prepares for departure prior to a Project Camel Train test flight at Archerfield Airport, Brisbane. Photos: LACW Aiesha White-Kratz
Share:

The RAAF’s Jericho Disruptive Innovation (JDI) team, in partnership with Brisbane-based RF Design, has completed the first long-range mission of an autonomous aircraft, JabX.

During the demonstration, JabX took off from Archerfield, Queensland, tracking through regional NSW before landing in Whyalla, SA. The event marked a leap forward for the ADF’s tactical logistics capability.

Developed under JDI’s Project Camel Train, JabX is a heavily modified, Australian-built Jabiru J400 light aircraft, transformed into a fully autonomous cargo platform. 

RF Design Managing Director Seppo Saario said: “It can take off and land by itself, and it has a detect-and-avoid system that allows it to operate safely in civilian airspace.” 

Project Camel Train aims to establish dedicated uncrewed flight corridors linking remote airfields and isolated coastal bases across northern Australia’s vast distances.

A small aircraft flying in the sky.
The JabX autonomous aerial system during a Project Camel Train test flight over South Australia.

While a safety pilot remained on board to meet experimental regulations, the aircraft’s flight control system handled the mission end-to-end – managing take-off, en route navigation and landing autonomously. Across 12 hours of flying, the safety pilot only intervened once due to weather.

Project Camel Train’s technical lead FLGOFF Patrick Phillips said the team hadn’t previously been able to test the backend management system over such a long distance.

“The JabX performed wonderfully. This is a huge step – and with small refinements, we believe long-distance autonomous logistics is entirely viable,” FLGOFF Phillips said.

Beyond its operational capability, the flight also highlighted the strength of Australia’s domestic aviation industry. The aircraft, engine and software are all Australian-built and delivered by local companies.

WGCDR Keirin Joyce, Deputy Director Disruptive Experimentation, said the event was a significant step for the future of air logistics. 

“By automating cargo movement across the north, we strengthen our logistics tail,” WGCDR Joyce said. 

“This approach keeps dispersed teams supplied without over-tasking our crewed transport fleet, freeing aviators to focus on more complex missions.”

The JabX is just one component of Project Camel Train, and with long-range performance now validated, the project is moving into its next critical phase: removing the on-board safety pilot. This step will be a key milestone on the path to fully autonomous operations.

Share:

Related stories