Luxembourg-based Kleos Space is creating its first wholly owned subsidiary abroad in Australia - Kleos Space (Asia Pacific) Pty Ltd.
Kleos is a space technology operator that plans to launch and operate its first earth observation satellite system in early 2019.
The new Kleos Space office, to be located in Canberra, will allow the company to align itself with the Australian government’s recent pledge to invest $500 million to improve the country’s space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
Erik Tyler will lead the regional subsidiary as its managing director. He previously served in the Australian Defence Force as an operator specialist in communications, both in-country and on active deployment. He will leverage his Defence contacts, as well as his public company and capital market experience, to drive the Australian presence for Kleos Space.
“I am excited to be heading up the Australian presence for Kleos Space in the lead up to our listing on the Australian Securities Exchange, in particular focusing on the Australian Governments $500m investment to improve Australia’s space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities," Mr Tyler told ADM.
"Our ability to geolocate radio transmissions will have a direct and clear market within Australia, in particular border force and maritime security.”
Kleos Space is planning to publicly list on the ASX in late 2018.
Earlier this month, the company and its partner GomSpace Group moved forward on a contract to deliver the first of twenty satellite system constellations.
The data that the Kleos Space satellites gather through geo-located radio transmissions will allow countries to guard borders and protect assets by delivering global activity-based intelligence and geolocation as a service.
Kleos will deliver a daily service with a full constellation delivering near-real-time global observation.The final data product will be a frequently refreshed image that shows the location of RF emitters transmitting relevant radio frequencies. The data will be sold for search and rescue, maritime security and regulatory intelligence purposes by users seeking geospatial intelligence and signal intelligence.
ADM Comment: The fact that Kleos has made Australia its first move abroad is a good indication that the government’s investment in our space capabilities has piqued the interest of global industry players. It also comes on the back of news that HorizonX Ventures, Boeing’s investment arm, has made its first overseas investment in Myriota, an Adelaide-based start-up that aims to bring the ‘Internet of Things’ to remote locations through direct communications between ground-based transmitters and shoebox-sized nanosatellites. Niche space technologies look set to become a significant part of Australia’s effort to become a top-ten defence exporter.