Av-Comm Space & Defence and Lockheed Martin deliver New Zealand satellite ground station and uplink processing centre for SouthPAN

Av-Comm Space & Defence, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin Australia, has established a satellite ground control and uplink processing centre for the Southern Positioning Augmentation Network (SouthPAN) in Awarua, near Invercargill, New Zealand.

The centre was officially opened today by New Zealand’s Minister for Land Information, the Hon. Chris Penk MP. Representatives from Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand, Aviation industry leaders and Av-Comm were in attendance, as well as members of the Lockheed Martin Australia leadership team.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Lockheed Martin Australia in delivering this critical piece of positioning infrastructure for the New Zealand and Australian Governments,” said Michael Cratt, Chief Executive Officer at Av-Comm. “Completion of the Awarua ground control system underscores our shared commitment to delivering robust, state-of-the-art satellite infrastructure solutions.”

The establishment of the New Zealand satellite ground control and uplink processing centre marks a significant achievement for the SouthPAN project, a collaborative initiative between Geoscience Australia and Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand to deliver Satellite-Based Augmentation System services to Australia, New Zealand, and the surrounding maritime areas.

Av-Comm is proud to announce the establishment of our New Zealand division, aimed at expanding our network of Ground Stations in this neighbouring country. This initiative exemplifies the strong collaborative efforts between New Zealand and Australia, fostering innovation and growth in the satellite communications sector.

“This is an exciting opportunity for an SME such as ourselves, particularly as we turn our sights to regional expansion,” said Michael Cratt. “Undertaking this recent project through our newly founded New Zealand branch of Av-Comm has been a great success, showing us that supporting our regional neighbours through projects of this magnitude benefits both the local community and the regional industry. Av-Comm is committed to further developing the space-based capabilities of both our nations in the interest of regional security and strengthening of regional bonds.”

In 2022, Lockheed Martin Australia was awarded the 19-year contract, worth AUD$1.18 billion, to deliver SouthPAN. Av-Comm’s role as the preferred systems integrators includes the antenna build and commissioning over the recent two-year period. Strategically located in Awarua to leverage Southland’s favourable geographic position for optimal satellite communication and coverage, the facility boasts two 11-metre satellite dishes and a control centre with dual radio frequency uplinks.

Awarua is the second of two SouthPAN satellite ground control facilities built for the New Zealand and Australian Governments. The first opened at Uralla, New South Wales, Australia, in December 2023. As key providers for the Uralla build, Av-Comm Space & Defence saw New Zealand as a complementary market, with similar concerns such as regional isolation and strengthening of regional alliances catalysing the SME to set up shop in New Zealand.

The SouthPAN system uses Lockheed Martin’s 2nd Generation Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) to improve the accuracy and reliability of global navigation satellite system positioning, such as GPS, across Australia and New Zealand. This capability benefits agriculture, aviation, construction, consumer, resource, road, rail, maritime, mining, utilities, and more.

The establishment of the SouthPAN ground control and uplink processing centre in Awarua represents a significant investment in New Zealand’s space infrastructure and reinforces Lockheed Martin & Av-Comm’s dedication to supporting highly skilled roles in regional centres.

Watch below: News one coverage of the SouthPAN commissioning in New Zealand, recorded at Av-Comm’s TV monitoring site in Auckland!