The company is expected to draw on its 40 years of satellite hardware expertise and 500 years of in orbit service, as well as the creation of smallsat, CubeSat and microsats for Earth observation, communications and navigation. SSTL is also expected to draw on its history of supporting programs surrounding the construction of a lunar communications array, the monitoring of emissions and observing climate variables.

Currently, SSTL offers 20 customer training programs for national governments, including the US and Canada.

Clive Oates, head of Americas and Five Eyes nations at SSTL, welcomed the opportunity to help build a sovereign space and MILSATCOM capability in Australia.

“Team Maier is a unique partnership that will develop a truly sovereign MILSATCOM capability for Australia by enhancing Australia's industrial capabilities in the sector. We believe this approach will enable Australia to develop into a space sector leader in the long term and we are proud to be adding our expertise to this effort,” Oates said.

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Martin Rowse, Airbus campaign lead for the JP 9102 program, explained that SSTL’s experience in developing MILSATCOM capabilities for other Five Eyes nations will support the Team Maier bid.

“SSTL will bring unparalleled experience to Team Maier. The team has been at the forefront of building sovereign MILSATCOM capabilities for other nations, including our Five Eyes allies, for decades. Furthermore, the company’s experience in innovative satellite use cases means that Team Maier is ready to meet any requirements that Australia requires. We are very happy to have such a strong addition to the team,” Rowse said.

SSTL will be joining Blacktree, Clearbox, Microsoft, UGL and Willyama in the Airbus-led Team Maier consortium.

[Related: Airbus names UGL as latest local Team Maier partner]