Airbus lands at Lot Fourteen

Global aerospace company Airbus Defence and Space will open its first Australian office dedicated to space at the Defence and Space Landing Pad at Lot Fourteen.

The new office will be home to the Resilient Multi-Mission (RMS) STaR Shot program and missions — a strategic research program established to develop future space capabilities for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

In July 2022, Airbus was selected as the strategic partner to fast-track the development of sovereign, critical satellite technologies under the RMS program.

The RMS aims to ensure the ADF is equipped with ongoing access to resilient and trusted communication, intelligence and surveillance services.

Having a permanent presence in South Australia will enable Airbus to provide a focal point for wider engagement with Australian industry as the program looks to demonstrate and experiment with locally manufactured payloads.

The announcement comes after Airbus announced it will establish its Space Assembly and Integration facility at the future Australian Space Park in Adelaide.

Airbus will join Fleet Space Technologies, Alauda Aeronautics, ATSpace and QCTRL, in establishing the nation’s first dedicated space manufacturing hub, set to begin operation in 2025.

Airbus joins a growing number of international defence and space companies that have used the Defence and Space Landing Pad, managed by Defence SA, as a grounding for their expansion into South Australia, taking advantage of the support, advice and relationship building opportunities provided.

Deputy Premier Susan Close said, “the expansion of Airbus into South Australia is a major boost to the state’s space capability and a testament to the collaborative, supportive and innovative environment building at Lot Fourteen.”

“South Australia’s space industry is on an exciting trajectory and I’m proud to welcome Airbus and the opportunities they will bring to advance our mission to build a thriving and enduring space ecosystem.”

Airbus Defence and Space UK managing director Richard Franklin and Defence SA CEO Richard Price

Richard Franklin, Managing Director, Airbus Defence and Space UK said, “South Australia’s diverse and vibrant industrial ecosystem makes it a natural choice for us to establish our space centre.”

“We look forward to working closely with the innovative start-ups and scale-ups in South Australia to help further build a sustainable sovereign Australian space sector.”

Richard Price, Chief Executive, Defence SA said, “the Defence and Space Landing Pad is a one-stop-shop that supports the relocation of international companies to South Australia.”

“It’s great to see another global defence and space leader such as Airbus recognise the value of growing their footprint in South Australia and we look forward to supporting their business journey.

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