Lockheed Martin Australia and Av-Comm have completed the installation of the inaugural satellite dish for the Southern Positioning Augmentation Network (SouthPAN) in Uralla, regional New South Wales.
This marks a significant achievement for the SouthPAN project, 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.
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.
The completion of the first 11-metre satellite dish, with a control centre and dual radio frequency uplinks, now promises to refine positioning accuracy to as little as ten centimetres.
In doing so, revolutionising positioning across Australia with benefits across agriculture, aviation, construction, consumer, resource, road, rail, maritime, mining, utilities, and more.
Warren McDonald, Chief Executive Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, stated, “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. 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”.
Lockheed Martin Australia’s Regional Director for Space, David Ball, said, “The SouthPAN project is a key example of the collaboration necessary to advance Australia’s industrial positioning capability. 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”.
Michael Cratt, Av-Comm’s Managing Director, said, “Partnering with Lockheed Martin Australia to establish SouthPAN’s first dedicated infrastructure has been a privilege. As a family-run Australian company, we’re not only contributing to the nation’s space sector but hopefully sparking innovation across industries dependent on precise positioning. It’s a step forward for Australian technology on the global stage”.
