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Space Centre Australia’s plans to build a spaceport in Far North Queensland have stepped up after it announced a $30 million deal to acquire two air surveillance radars.
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The agreement will see Germany aerospace firm Hensoldt deliver two of its ASR-NG devices that can detect aircraft as small as ultralight gliders within a radius of 120NM.
The deal, which will see the radars arrive by the end of 2026, also includes a 20-year sustainment plan.
“The establishment of SCA’s Spaceport in Cape York will not just provide the infrastructure needed to make Australia a leading nation in the global space industry, but it will importantly and significantly enhance Australia’s surveillance and aviation domain management capabilities in remote Northern Australia, to support the work of our defence forces and border protection agencies,” according to former Prime Minister of Australia and Space Centre Australia chairman Scott Morrison.
James Palmer, Space Centre Australia’s CEO, said the purchase marks a “significant milestone” in strengthening the infrastructure required for its aerospace operations.
“These units will deliver state-of-the-art air surveillance that not only ensures the safety of our launches but also reinforces our commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards for the global aerospace industry,” he said.
It comes a week after the company surprisingly revealed it had appointed Scott Morrison to become its new chairman.
The former prime minister, who recently joined a Washington-based security and defence think tank, also immediately hinted it had been in discussions with SpaceX over future launches.
“By leveraging Australia’s proximity to Asia-Pacific markets and our robust aerospace ecosystem, SpaceX could achieve new milestones in launch frequency, efficiency and environmental stewardship,” Morrison told The Australian Financial Review.
“Space Centre Australia offers a unique opportunity for SpaceX to diversify its launch sites, allowing them to meet global demands while benefiting from Australia’s advanced technological infrastructure and regulatory stability.”
Australia is currently home to four spaceports: Equatorial Launch Australia’s Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory, Gilmour Space Technologies’ Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland and Southern Launch’s orbital Whalers Way facility and suborbital Koonibba Test Range in South Australia.
Space Centre Australia’s proposed launch site would be in Cape York, the peninsula located in Far North Queensland.
Once complete, Palmer believes the “multi-use” spaceport could be like a “large international airport” for launch vehicles.
