Australia closes military satellite communications system, which took $5 billion

On November 4, 2024, the Australian Department of Defense announced the curtailment of a large-scale project to create a military satellite communications system, the deployment of which was to be carried out by the American company Lockheed Martin. The reason for the decision is related to the rapid development of technology and the change in the situation in outer space.

We are talking about a JP9102 program worth about $5 billion. The project, launched in 2021, included the launch of three to five geostationary satellites and the development of related ground-based systems. It is one of Australia's biggest ventures in space infrastructure. As part of the program, Lockheed Martin led an industry consortium that included companies such as Inover Technologies, EM Solutions and DXC.

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Australia closes military satellite communications system, which took $5 billion

The implementation of the project would allow Australia to establish the first state-controlled satellite communications system over the Indo-Pacific region. However, the Australian Defense Ministry concluded that the platform in its planned configuration, that is, based on one geostationary orbit, will not meet the strategic priorities of the department. As a result, it JP9102 decided to abandon the initiative.

The decision allows the Department of Defense to prioritize existing needs, mitigate existing gaps and continue its transition to an integrated military. Thus, priority should be given to multi-orbital capabilities, the ministry said in a statement.

The Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) expressed disappointment at the cancellation of the JP9102 project, stressing that this decision represents a regression for the country's space sector. Lockheed Martin said in a statement that the company "will continue to support the Australian government in meeting its strategic needs."^[1]

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