Australia Cancels IDR 78 Trillion Military Satellite Project

Illustration of the JP9102 satellite canceled by the Australian government (photo: dock. Lockheed Martin)

JAKARTA The JP9102 military satellite program announced by the Australian government in 2021 is not going well. The $5 billion project was officially canceled on November 4.

In a statement, quoted from Spacenews, the Australian Department of Defense explained that the JP9102 project was no longer in line with its strategic goals. Currently, they are focusing on multi-orbit space to improve security and resilience.

The Department of Defense also said that satellites have evolved. According to them, the single geostationary orbit (GEO) approach is outdated when compared to satellite solutions in the Middle Earth Orbit (MEO) and low Earth Orbit (LEO).

"The Defense Department has assessed that the single-orbit GEO-based satellite communication system will not meet strategic priorities," the agency said. "(we) decided to stop its current procurement activities with Lockheed Martin Australia."

This is bad news for Lockheed, the industry consortium leader who received the JP9102 development contract about 18 months ago. Not only Lockheed Martin, this program was also given to Inovor Technologies, EM Solutions, and DXC.

Responding to the cancellation of the three geostationary satellites development project, the Australian Space Industry Association (SIAA) said that this decision was a setback. SIAA says that this program has harmed Lockheed and other space companies.

"Lockheed Martin and other companies have invested in the program's preparation, and have created high-tech jobs across the country," SIAA said.

According to SIAA, this program has many benefits. In addition to creating jobs, the Australian government can create the best space-based technology that can help national defense so that the cancellation of this program is a setback.

"If the program continues, this program will develop into hundreds of high-tech jobs, increase significant labor skills, export opportunities, (and the best technology in the future)," SIAA said.