Lockheed Martin Australia and industry partner Av-Comm have successfully completed installation of the inaugural satellite dish for the Southern Positioning Augmentation Network (SouthPAN) in Uralla, regional New South Wales.
In September 2022, Lockheed Martin Australia was awarded a $1.18 billion contract to enhance precise positioning within the SouthPAN service areas.
In December 2022, Lockheed Martin Australia selected New South Wales company Av-Comm to establish a network of ground station uplink facilities for SouthPAN, a collaborative initiative between Geoscience Australia and Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand designed to deliver Satellite-Based Augmentation System services to Australia, New Zealand and maritime regions.
“The SouthPAN project is a key example of the collaboration necessary to advance Australia's industrial positioning capability," said David Ball, Lockheed Martin Australia’s Regional Director for Space.
"By working together with Av-Comm on this critical infrastructure, we're enhancing our nation's technological capabilities while ensuring that Australia plays a pivotal role in the global economy. We look forward to furthering our joint efforts with industry
partners to pioneer new frontiers in space and satellite technology.”
The completion of the first 11-metre satellite dish, with a control centre and dual radio frequency uplinks, aims to refine positioning accuracy to as little as ten centimetres.
“The successful deployment of SouthPAN's first satellite dish represents a leap forward in positioning technology and a testament to the ingenuity and commitment of our Australian team," said Warren McDonald, Chief Executive Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand.
"By enabling accuracy down to as little as ten centimetres, we're not just enhancing positioning services; we're revolutionising how industries operate and how emergency services respond across the region.”