Photo: Government of South Australia

The Australian Department of Defence is investing $4 million in a sovereign Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite project, led by Australian satellite operator Optus. Under the co-funded arrangement announced Monday, Optus will also provide investment and lead the consortium to build, launch and operate the spacecraft, targeted for launch in early 2028.  

The consortium is made up of iLAuNCH Trailblazer, HEO, Inovor Technologies and the Australian Department of Defence’s Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). 

The satellite will be equipped with two pieces of equipment, an imager from HEO to take high-resolution pictures of other objects in space, and an optical communications terminal, along with traditional radio frequency communications. The LEO satellite will be built by Inovor Technologies in Adelaide, South Australia and Optus intends to operate the spacecraft from its operations center in Sydney.

Chief Defence Scientist, Professor Tanya Monro AC, said equipment on-board the satellite will support research and technology development, and build Australian sovereign expertise in optical and LEO communications.

“By investing in innovative R&D projects, we strive to develop next-generation capabilities that are resilient and secure for potential future Defence applications,” Monro said. “This is a great example of Government, industry and academia partnering to grow Australia’s sovereign space sector capabilities, creating exciting new opportunities to strengthen our national security.”