Fleet Space Technologies secures Defence Space Command contract

Australian company Fleet Space Technologies has announced that it has signed a $6.4 million contract with Australia’s Defence Space Command, marking the company’s first defence contract. The agreement will see Fleet’s next generation of Centauri satellites used to develop and demonstrate a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications system focused on tactical communications and data transmission where connectivity is limited.

The program, named ASCEND2LEO, will make use of Fleet’s commercial satellites. In a collaboration between government, defence industry and academia, Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), Fleet Space Technologies, the University of South Australia, Rice Satcom and SmartSat CRC are taking advanced research and technologies to demonstrate LEO capabilities to the war fighter. This innovative approach enables Defence to take advantage of the most modern commercial space technology used by the mining industry with the most up-to-date research to rapidly advance space capabilities.

“Australia is fortunate to have a talented space industry with an inventive spirit. Space is operationally critical to the achievement of the Defence mission, and this is an example of innovative way to advance our capability and support the development of a sustainable national space enterprise,” said Colonel Clifford White, Director Space Services at Defence Space Command. “We look forward to working with Fleet Space as they bring new approaches to enhance satellite communication capabilities to meet Defence’s needs.”

As an emerging Australian company in the global ‘new space’ industry, Fleet Space says it has a unique opportunity to develop and embrace cutting-edge technologies and methodologies for domestic satellite technology production. The company’s key capabilities are low-power, high-performance edge computing in small spacecraft and terrestrial devices, as well as additive manufacturing. By leveraging Australian competitive strengths, Fleet Space says it will complement, augment and reinforce sovereign space capability for the nation and its allies.

“We’re excited to collaborate with Defence Space Command and our partners to deliver new capabilities from low Earth orbit,” said Matt Pearson, Chief Exploration Officer and co-founder, Fleet Space Technologies. “This is only the beginning and we envision Australian satellites supporting national security across land, air, sea and space by connecting our people, our assets and by enabling radical ideas in autonomy and emerging technologies. We’re investing heavily in advanced manufacturing [and] high-tech engineering talent, and have a laser focus on delivering innovative solutions at scale for our customers worldwide.”

In addition to expanding into the defence sector with its LEO satellite communications systems, Fleet Space continues to diversify its offerings with the ExoSphere system, providing solutions for mining exploration.

Image caption: Australian defence in space, connecting defence assets and personnel from low Earth orbit. Source: Fleet Space Technologies.