An Australian-designed weapon system has reportedly been trialled by the Israeli military, despite the Albanese government’s repeated assurances that no Australian weaponry has been exported to Israel since the war in Gaza erupted in 2023.
The weapon, known as the R400 Remote Weapon System (RWS), was developed by Canberra-based defence company Electro Optic Systems (EOS). It’s marketed as a “high precision” and “lethal” system capable of hitting targets up to two kilometres away. The R400 can be fitted with various weapons, including machine guns, grenade launchers, and anti-tank missiles, making it a versatile tool for modern warfare.
The allegations against the Albanese government
According to the ABC, a defence industry source claimed that components for the R400 were manufactured in Australia before being sent to EOS’s facilities in the United States for assembly. After that, the completed system reportedly made its way to Israel — without requiring Australian export approval.
This is significant because for months, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his government have insisted that “no Australian weaponry” has been sent to Israel during the ongoing conflict, most recently at the first election debate this past week.
The Defence Department has backed this up, stating that “Australia has not supplied weapons or ammunition to Israel” since 2023.
But documents submitted by EOS to the Australian Stock Exchange earlier this year suggest otherwise. A February investor update from EOS includes a photograph of Israeli Ministry of Defence officials standing behind an R400 system during counter-drone trials held in southern Israel in January 2025. The document notes that EOS “supported a local prime to demonstrate counter-drone capabilities” and received “high praise” for its system’s performance during the trials.
What does EOS say?
When questioned about whether it sought approval to export the R400 or its components, EOS stayed tight-lipped. The company told the ABC it “does not publicise commercially sensitive information regarding clients, existing contracts or business development campaigns”.
EOS did emphasise its compliance with trade regulations across all countries where it operates, including Australia and the United States. “EOS operates under the trade control regulations of the countries it is based in,” a spokesperson said.
What’s been the government’s response?
The Defence Department maintains its position that no new export permits for weapons or ammunition have been issued since October 2023 and that older permits don’t cover weapons or ammunition either. A spokesperson explained that as the situation in Gaza evolved, “the government has calibrated its approach and has only approved new export permits to Israel for items for Australian defence and law enforcement that will return to Australia”.
Defence has also been reviewing pre-existing export permits granted before the war began. However, critics argue this doesn’t account for situations like this one — where components are sent to another country before being shipped elsewhere.
Political fallout
Greens Senator David Shoebridge is calling out what he sees as a major inconsistency between government claims and reality. “What we can see clearly here is an Australian-made weapon in the hands of the Israeli military in Israel in January this year,” Shoebridge told ABC News.
“I think that really puts the lie to these denials we’ve had from the Albanese government since this appalling conflict started.”
Shoebridge’s comments have added fuel to growing concerns about transparency in Australia’s defence exports — and whether loopholes are allowing Aussie-made tech to end up being used in ways that contradict public assurances from officials.
Whether this prompts tighter regulations or further investigations into Australia’s arms trade policies remains unclear — but one thing is certain: people want answers about how Australian-made technologies are being used overseas.
Lead image: EOS / Getty
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