Department 13 International Limited (ASX:D13) a cutting-edge developer of counter drone technology, has today announced an exclusive partnership with Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C- UAS) Intellectual Property specialist XiDrone Systems Inc.

Key Highlights:

- D13 enters into exclusive partnership with XiDrone to collaboratively develop and leverage IP within C-UAS and other verticals

- Exclusive licensing of XiDrone’s multi-sensor C-UAS technology allows MESMER™ to integrate into all sensor technologies and proprietary ownership of this capability

- Provides substantial ability to work collaboratively with other C-UAS technology providers to further leverage and monetize IP

The exclusive partnership will see D13 and XiDrone work jointly on an ongoing basis to advance IP development relating to C-UAS, autonomous systems and wireless communications. D13 believes this collaborative approach with XiDrone will significantly bolster the Company’s unrivalled IP position and simultaneously accelerate D13s expansion within the C-UAS industry by enabling D13 to integrate with other C-UAS technologies in a patented environment.

XiDrone’s IP portfolio contains the first U.S. and European patents for integrated multi- sensor, counter-drone technology which focuses upon collecting integrated sensor data to generate a threat assessment and execute a situationally appropriate counter- measure. As part of the exclusive partnership D13 will secure patent rights to integrate MESMER™ with all other sensor technologies, including:

- Radar

- Radio Frequency

- Acoustics

- Electro-Optical / Infrared

Combining D13’s MESMER™ with this multi-sensor C-UAS technology aims to create an industry-leading solution for mitigating the global threat of commercial drones, with multi-sensor capability now viewed as an integral feature of a holistic C-UAS solution. Federally Funded Research and Development Centre Sandia National Laboratories, (a science and technology contractor for the US department of Energy) highlighted this as a core-competency for C-UAS technologies in their UAS Detection, Classification & Neutralization Market Survey.

The report found that “multiple detection technologies must be integrated or fused into a single detection / classi?cation architecture to ensure higher probability of detection.” This technology provides D13 with the exclusive right to deliver this capability.

By substantially improving detection and identification the technology subsequently delivers an improved ability to make critical decisions on which mitigation technology is most relevant to a given threat. For instance, choosing to safely control a drone with protocol manipulation or alternatively use jamming or kinetic technologies.

While the initial focus will be to quickly build out the capability within MESMER™, D13 and XiDrone will also aim to work collaboratively with other parties within the C-UAS industry to implement the technology. Counter-drone manufacturers and suppliers will benefit from this Partnership by offering their customers a complete and more comprehensive counter-drone solution which now includes a precision, non-jamming, mitigation response.

XiDrone will receive a small upfront licensing fee for the exclusive licensing of the patents (tabled below) and ongoing royalties payable on product sales and sub- licensing revenues.

Department 13 CEO, Jonathan Hunter, commented “D13 and XiDrone Systems can now leverage our respective pool of operational expertise to identify mutual growth opportunities within the military, commercial and private sectors and this marks an important step in D13’s broader strategy of progressing into a business that leverages its competitive advantage in IP and cutting-edge software development.”

XiDrone Systems President, Dwaine Parker, commented “We couldn’t be more excited about this partnership. We methodically researched which companies within the counter-drone industry were making the biggest impact with their technology. Department 13’s complete IP portfolio is a natural fit with our technology, enabling both companies the means necessary to provide effective solutions for the counter-drone industry as well as the FAA’s UTM project.”