Northrop Grumman and Gilmour
Space Technologies Work to Grow Sovereign Capabilities
in Australia
Nov. 25, 2020
Northrop Grumman Corporation
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with
Queensland-based rocket company, Gilmour Space
Technologies, to support the development of Australian
sovereign space capabilities.
Northrop Grumman and Gilmour Space
Technologies Work to Grow Sovereign Capabilities in
Australia
Northrop Grumman aims to lead
industry support in developing Australian sovereign
space capabilities to help meet the needs of defence and
realise the Australian Space Agency vision,” said Chris
Deeble, chief executive, Northrop Grumman Australia.
“Our approach is consistent with the Australian
government’s recently announced Modern Manufacturing
Strategy, to make space hardware in Australia while
securing sovereign capabilities in priority areas that
includes defence and space.”
As an initial task under the MOU,
Northrop Grumman will join Gilmour Space as an industry
partner on a previously announced Cooperative Research
Centre Project (CRC-P) to develop composite rocket tanks
for low cost space transport.
The CRC-P, which includes Griffith
University and Etamax Engineering, will manufacture
composite tanks up to two metres in diameter and trial
them in rocket flights, in an effort to reduce weight
and increase reliability.
Gilmour Space CEO Adam Gilmour said
the company is excited to work with Northrop Grumman on
this opportunity. “It is great to gain the support of
Northrop Grumman who, through this investment, have
further demonstrated their commitment to grow Australian
space capability.”
Northrop Grumman recently sought
expressions of interest from a range of Australian and
New Zealand industry members, through the Industry
Capability Network Gateway Portal, which included small
businesses, with the goal to identify and collaborate
with industry to develop Australian space capabilities.
Northrop Grumman
remains committed to enhancing its business and
geographic footprint in the Commonwealth of Australia as
a key contributor to the Australian Space industry. The
company has a strong customer base in Australia where it
has been supporting numerous defence and civil programs
for more than 20 years.
Northrop Grumman solves the
toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defence and
cyberspace to meet the ever evolving needs of our
customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees define
possible every day using science, technology and
engineering to create and deliver advanced systems,
products and services.
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