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An unidentified aerial vehicle landing on the $1.5 billion prize Australian warship HMAS Canberra weakens the ADF’s image on the international stage.

An alleged Chinese National has posted apparent footage of him landing a drone on the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) warship HMAS Canberra (III).

In the almost three-minute video, the drone is seen hovering over the port section of HMAS Canberra’s helicopter deck before landing. The ship can be easily identified by its L02 markings.

The unidentified drone then moves up and over the Canberra, providing a close-up shot of Garden Island in Sydney, before moving towards RAN frigate HMAS Warramunga (II).

Approaching the Warramunga’s five-inch gun, the drone pilot then taunts four sailors, two of whom move towards the drone to take photos of it with their phones.

Although two different videos exist — one short, the other long — and speculation by commentators on X suggested two separate incidents, cloud formations in the background confirm that both videos document the same event.

The Sydney Morning Herald originally shared the video on Thursday morning. The outlet has since removed the content without comment.

HMAS Canberra Security Breach a ‘Scandal’

One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts also reported on the incident. Posting his concerns on X, Senator Roberts wrote, ‘This is a monumental scandal.’

‘How was a Chinese National able to land a commercial drone on the deck of Australia’s largest warship?’ he asked.

‘The current Chief of the Defence Force is being paid more than $1 million a year by taxpayers. Before he was the CDF, Admiral Johnston was the Chief of the Navy. What the hell is he doing?’

A Chinese “tourist” has flown a drone within metres of Australian Navy warships and even landed on one.

The current Chief of the Defence Force is being paid more than $1 million a year by taxpayers. Before he was the CDF, Admiral Johnston was the Chief of the Navy. What the hell… pic.twitter.com/tjSm7rqRF6

— Malcolm Roberts 🇦🇺 (@MRobertsQLD) December 17, 2024

Further investigation revealed that footage of the apparent security breach was published in 2020 on China’s national social media network Weibo.

The same 2020 video was then republished on December 15th 2024 on an X account named Ying Li.

To provide context, Ying Li allegedly quoted the drone pilot mocking the RAN, saying:

We took off and landed perfectly with the help of the Australian Navy’s deck, turned around and teased (the soldiers) to escape. They didn’t even have an anti-drone suppressor. Oh, how unsophisticated.

12月15日，澳大利亚。一名中国游客操控无人机从军舰甲板上起飞，接着又让无人机飞向另一艘军舰，对着军舰上的士兵拍摄。
这名中国游客称“借助澳洲水师甲板完美起降，转身调戏(士兵)闪人，他们居然连反无人机压制器都没有，哎，够土的”
有网友提醒此行为可能违法。他表示：警察只是让他下不为例。 pic.twitter.com/aBu0Mu4oXO

— 李老师不是你老师 (@whyyoutouzhele) December 15, 2024

Fallout From the HMAS Canberra Incident

Regardless of the date, the optics are bad.

Mockery of the ADF by foreign operators, and a lapse in security regarding “tourist” surveillance of military assets, are cause for concern.

Officially, neither the LNP nor the Labor Government has formerly acknowledged any such security breach, despite police likely knowing about the incident, as suggested by the drone pilot claiming police just gave him a slap on the wrist.

Moreover, at least four sailors witnessed the incident, two of whom seemingly recorded it on their phones.

For perspective, the HMAS Canberra is Australia’s second largest warships, and one of its newest naval vessels. Its landing deck can host some of the world’s most powerful VTOL aircraft, as well as helicopters, including the Apache, which will replace Australia’s Tiger Eurocopters in 2025.

As such, both the Canberra and its sister ship, the HMAS Adelaide (L01), power a large part of Australia’s ability to respond to local and regional natural disasters.

Having a relatively cheap, unmanned and unidentified aerial vehicle fly close to — let alone land on — the $1.5 billion prize Australian warship weakens the ADF’s image on the international stage.

Just as troubling is that the incident encourages potential drone attacks on ADF personnel.

Even if the video turns out to be a RAN recruitment promotion, or sailors messing around (both are unlikely given the silence from government), the viral video is an embarrassment to all Australians.

The resurfacing of this incident should prompt an immediate investigation into how no-fly zones are being enforced to enhance base security.

This should include full transparency about who was behind the drone stunt, and how ADF personnel are being shielded from the increasing likelihood of a drone attack.