Kite Aerospace Pty Ltd has commenced manufacturing its KITE uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) in Geelong through a partnership with Sykes Advanced Manufacturing, establishing an Australian production base for the aircraft.
Production is being carried out at Sykes’ Geelong facility, which was previously operated by Quickstep. According to Kite Aero, the site combines aerospace-grade composite manufacturing, large-format 3D printing and 5-axis CNC machining capabilities.
In a media release, the company stated local production will place the KITE within an Australian and Five Eyes-aligned supply chain, with the aircraft’s intellectual property held onshore.
Kite Aero said this is intended to provide supply chain assurance for enterprise and government customers across the United States, Europe and other allied markets.
“Moving the KITE production to Geelong is a decisive step in scaling Kite Aero,” said Philip van der Burg, CEO of Kite Aero. “Sykes brings nearly 60 years of composite manufacturing discipline and one of the most capable advanced manufacturing facilities in the country.”
The KITE is designed as an autonomous logistics aircraft for transporting critical supplies to communities and personnel beyond the reach of conventional transport.
Kite Aero noted the aircraft has completed more than 2,000 flights and 800 hours under its ownership, in addition to 11,000 flights and 2,500 hours under previous ownership. The company currently has a pipeline of more than 100 units.
Sykes Advanced Manufacturing operates across two Geelong facilities with a combined 6,500 square metres of composites manufacturing capability. Its capabilities include composite tooling and production, large-format additive and subtractive manufacturing, and 5-axis CNC machining.
“The opportunity to partner with Kite Aero brings our composite and advanced manufacturing capability to a proven Australian aerospace program,” said Mark Nothnagel, Managing Director of Jeff Sykes & Associates, Sykes Advanced Manufacturing’s parent company.
“Building advanced composite products for the KITE locally, to aerospace standards, is exactly what our Geelong facility was made for,” Nothnagel said.
Kite Aero said manufacturing in Geelong will allow it to scale production alongside its commercial and defence pipeline while keeping the aircraft’s build, intellectual property and quality processes onshore.
