Page 14 - Australian Defence Magazine Dec-Jan 2023

14 NEWS REVIEW INDUSTRY UPDATE
DECEMBER 2022-JANUARY 2023 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
EOS WINS US GOVERNMENT SPACE CONTRACTS
ELECTRO Optic Systems’ (EOS) US subsid- iary, EOS Defense Systems USA (EOSDS USA) has been awarded two contracts to provide space tracking services to the US government.
EOS will provide the services to the Na- tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin- istration (NOAA) government agency’s Office of Space Commerce.
The first contract will provide com- mercial satellite laser ranging (SLR) data for NOAA’s Open Architecture
LEFT: The first contract will provide commercial satellite laser ranging (SLR) data for NOAA’s Open Architecture Data Repository
Data Repository, with the second con- tract providing passive electro-optical observations.
In order to respond to the ever-increas- ing number of space objects orbiting the Earth, NOAA is dedicated to advancing space traffic management and SSA ca- pabilities and is establishing an Open Architecture SSA Repository to conduct pilots, prototypes and experiments to ful- fill its obligations under the Space Policy Directive-3, enacted in June 2018. These
efforts will facilitate the safe operation of space-based vehicles.
The EOSDS USA team, based in Huntsville, will be supported by EOS Space Systems providing services from its Australian ground-based space-tracking infrastructure and observation facilities at Mt Stromlo, ACT and Learmonth, WA.
“EOSDS USA is pleased to offer this capability to NOAA to advance US Space Domain Awareness capabilities and ul- timately help protect future space mis- sions,” said retired Brig. Gen. Phil Coker, CEO of EOSDS USA. “After decades of being a global leader in Space Situational Awareness, we’re proud to bring this ex- ceptional technology to the US.”
“EOS Space Systems is pleased to offer our tracking services to NOAA and con- tribute to the advancement of space traffic management and space situational aware- ness capabilities,” said James Bennett, Executive Vice President of EOS Space Systems. “EOS is committed to the safety of flight of satellites and are pleased to be working closely with the US to facilitate the safe operation of space-based vehicles.”
DEFENCE INCLUDED IN $15B NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION FUND
THE government has introduced legislation to Parliament to establish the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund to re-invig- orate Australia’s manufacturing base.
The National Reconstruction Fund (NRF), launched by Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic in a speech to the National Press Club on 29 November, will invest across seven priority areas of the economy, including defence capability, to facilitate the manufacture of products do- mestically.
In addition to defence capability, other focus sectors will be renewables and low emission technologies; medical science; transport; value-add in agriculture, for- estry and fisheries; value-add in resourc- es; and enabling capabilities.
The NRF is modelled on the $10 bil- lion Clean Energy Finance Corporation,
which Labor established when last in gov- ernment.
It will be governed by an independent board making independent investment de- cisions and will be able to invest through a range of financing including loans, eq- uity and guarantees.
The government has begun public con- sultation to further define the scope of the seven priority areas for invest- ment and how the fund will make investment decisions.
“The National Reconstruction Fund will play a key part in ensur- ing Australia is a country that makes
RIGHT: The NRF will invest across seven priority areas of the economy, including defence capability
things,” Prime Minister Anthony Alba- nese said. “It will help create secure local jobs, boost sovereign capability and diver- sify our nation’s industry and economy.
“The National Reconstruction Fund will help Australia capture the opportuni- ties of today and tomorrow, building on our natural and competitive strengths to create a future made in Australia.” ■
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