Delivering sovereign military satellite communication capability for the Australian Warfighter
Access to space based capability is critical to Australia’s security, and to support, the Government is enhancing its investment in space capabilities.
We recognise the importance of the role of industry in the Australian Space ecosystem, and specifically the importance of growing space skills, technologies and innovation for the future of space in Australia.
To meet this challenge, Airbus Defence and Space has formed Team Maier to bring together the breadth of Australian expertise and capabilities to the forefront. This partnership will help develop workshare and expand opportunities for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) for job creation, technology transfer and innovation.
To launch its solution to Joint Project (JP) 9102 and provide a complete Sovereign Defence Satellite Communications System, Team Maier will partner with major Australian space and technology companies and academia.Martin Rowse, Director Space, Australia, Airbus , said “Team Maier recognises the important expertise and capabilities that Australian companies and academia can bring to the development of a sovereign space industry. . Reinforcing our long-standing commitment to the Commonwealth of Australia, our new Team Maier brings in partners to enable the Australian Defence Force to achieve its strategic objectives of Shape, Deter, and Respond across the Indo-Pacific region.”
Team Maier: Partnering to Deliver MilSatCom capability and Sovereignty in Space
Partnering with Airbus Defence and Space and Team Maier can deliver Australia sovereignty in space and freedom:
▪ To control the most important strategic asset in modern warfare – communications
▪ To evolve its SatCom capability to meet changing needs and threats
▪ To contribute and lead Allied operations in the Indo-Pacific region
Through Team Maier, Australia will benefit from decades of technical and operational know-how from the only team experienced in delivering, managing and operating a military SatCom capability. Know-how that is reflected in an industry skilling and development strategy to inspire young people, excite industry and help build the foundations for a competitive sovereign space-industry.
Learn more about Team Maier industry partners:
Team Maier, the connection with space, communication and indigenous communities
“Maier” is the name given to bright meteors by the Meriam people of the Eastern Islands of the Torres Strait. Maier are an important spiritual event for the Meriam People. They interpret the trajectory of Maier with their co-existence with the flora and fauna, land, winds, sea and relationships with their tribes, including signalling the transitioning of relatives into the afterlife.
The meaning behind Maiers is passed down through the generations by storytelling. The connection with space, communication and Indigenous communities made Maier an ideal name for our team.
We thank the Meriam people of the Torres Strait Islands for permission to use their language in the naming of Team Maier, and pay respect to their Elders, past and present and emerging.
Space in Australia
At Airbus Defence and Space, our purpose is to improve life on Earth and beyond through our cutting-edge space technologies. With every technological breakthrough, we bring people closer together, we navigate new frontiers and we discover new and unexplored destinations. And we don't just take innovations to space – our space solutions and projects help solve global challenges on Earth.
But we don’t stop there: we envisage a future where our human economy expands beyond Earth’s orbit and everyone benefits from the value of space. Explore, discover, connect: together, we can make tomorrow more than just another day.
Whether mapping every star in our galaxy or looking back at planet Earth, Airbus has been helping to answer big questions from space and advance space exploration for more than 50 years. Supplying reliable systems that range from electronic components to full telecommunications relay platforms, scientific satellites and crewed spacecraft, developing the technology to send spaceships to planets – Airbus provides solutions for customers and their programmes around the globe.
