Optus and Mitsubishi Electric join on defence project

Optus announced Mitsubishi Electric will manufacture its defence satellites as part of Team AUSSAT’s JP9102 Australia Defence Communication System proposal, which already encompasses defence partners Raytheon Australia and Thales Australia.

Optus and Mitsubishi Electric have a longstanding collaboration, including the Optus C1 satellite, which currently provides critical mission capabilities to the Australian Defence Force.

Mitsubishi Electric’s space experience brings a proven history in supplying more than 70 satellites as a prime contractor and providing onboard equipment for more than 500 spacecraft to customers around the world. Established in 1974, Mitsubishi Electric Australia has a history of assembling, testing and supporting products from its facility at Rydalmere in Sydney.

With this expansion of the defence business, Mitsubishi Electric Australia is already engaging with suppliers, such as Indigenous employer Willyama Services, providing support in relation to the Defence Industry Security Program (DISP).

Team AUSSAT’s proposition leverages over 12,000 Australians already employed; its JP9102 offering will create an Australian workforce with national space experience, capacity and capability for the future.

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