21st Century Security
Australia News Releases
CANBERRA, 14 June, 2022 – Lockheed Martin Australia (LMA) today announced a strategic agreement with leading Australian space service provider, Inovor Technologies, to support its ‘Hosted Missions Program,’ a key feature of LMA’s JP9102 Enhanced Australian Industry Capability (AIC) plan.
If adopted, LMA’s Hosted Missions Program would utilise surplus capacity aboard JP102 launch vehicles for small Australian designed and built satellite missions, providing multiple mission opportunities along with the baseline JP9102 resilient, sovereign, SATCOM capability.
Hosted missions could include spacecraft to augment the resilience of the primary mission or could also align with future Defence, Australian Space Agency, or commercial missions.
According to David Ball, Lockheed Martin Australia’s Regional Director for Space, the Hosted Missions Program would enable Australian organisations to benefit more widely from Lockheed Martin Australia’s JP9102 proposal.
“We’re committed to supporting Australian space industry by maximising the benefits of existing launch opportunities,” said David Ball. “Inovor, as the only spacecraft manufacturer in Australia developing bespoke spacecraft subsystems, and with deep experience providing satellite mission solutions for Defence, would support the Hosted Missions Program with exploratory studies, knowledge sharing, program planning activities and safety design requirements.”
“By offering to facilitate launch and transferring engineering know-how and capability to these organisations, Lockheed Martin Australia is contributing to the ongoing development of our nation’s robust space capability,” Ball added.
“As a passionate supporter of Australia’s future space industry, Inovor welcomes the opportunity to contribute our expertise to Lockheed Martin Australia’s Hosted Missions Program,” said Matt Tetlow, Founder and CEO of Inovor Technologies. “We’re excited by the opportunity to work hand in glove with Lockheed Martin Australia to create unparalleled opportunities for Australian space organisations, while also ensuring any hosted mission adds no risk to the safety and security of the primary JP9102 spacecraft.”
“By maximising Australia’s in-country space capabilities, Lockheed Martin Australia’s Hosted Missions Program would provide another major boost for the Australian space sector,” Tetlow added.
Lockheed Martin Australia’s JP9102 Hosted Missions Program falls under its AIC Plan, which supports small to medium Australian enterprises to deliver best-of-breed solutions and develop Australia’s defence and space industry capability.
Inovor joins an extensive network of Australian SMEs and team members supporting Lockheed Martin Australia to deliver these solutions and supply chain opportunities for JP9102 and beyond, including Av-Comm, Calytrix Technologies, Clearbox Systems, Conscia, DXC, EM Solutions, Linfox, Ronson Gears, Shoal Group and STEM Punks.
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About Lockheed Martin Australia
Headquartered in Canberra, Lockheed Martin Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The company employs more than 1,200 people in Australia working on a wide range of major programs spanning the aerospace, defence and civil sectors.
About Inovor Technologies
Inovor is a wholly Australian owned and operated company supported by a growing team of 50 specialist scientists, engineers and administrators. Inovor provides turnkey satellite mission solutions and specialist Electronic Warfare and Space Domain Awareness engineering services to Defence and commercial customers.
Media Contact: Joanne Hon: joanne.hon@lmco.com; Tel 0458 175 404