AALTO targets Australia for Zephyr’s next operating site, launching call to national payload industry

AALTO HAPS Ltd, an Airbus subsidiary that manufactures, operates, and will deliver services using Zephyr, is targeting its second launch and landing site to be built in northern Australia. Today’s announcement comes alongside AALTO’s call to Australian industry R&D and education bodies as it seeks to cultivate a national Stratospace technology ecosystem that will help create and deliver dual-use services for commercial and government customers in areas such as communications relay and earth observation.

AALTO is charting a new course for innovation in Australia at NTDefence Week, the Northern Territory’s flagship defence summit in Darwin. The Company is inviting new payload collaborators, through unveiling its technical interface and commercial roadmap during exclusive “Industry Engagements & Dialogues”. In partnership with the Northern Territory Government, AALTO will engage directly with leading payload providers, research institutions and technology partners to explore integration opportunities and define technical specifications.

Beyond these sessions, AALTO aims to develop collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders to assess feasibility studies for uses of the Stratocraft, and unlock funding pathways that accelerate development, develop and drive sovereign Australian capability and global competitiveness in Stratospace (that is, above airspace where conventional aircraft can operate, at 60,000 feet [c.20km] and above: a domain currently not accessed by commercial operators other than weather balloons).

Weighing only 75kg with a 25m wingspan, Zephyr uses solar radiation to power its ascent and descent, as well as persistent flying in the stratosphere. While still in development, in 2025, Zephyr achieved a record 67 days of continuous flight, which included its operation in Australian airspace and successful connectivity payload testing. The Stratocraft’s engineering design ensures it withstands extreme operating conditions, influencing required payload characteristics1. With its location near the equator, northern Australia has been identified as a suitable region that meets the required criteria for an AALTOPORT, complementing AALTO’s existing launch and landing base in Kenya opened in 2024.

Zephyr’s development as a complementary, cost-effective and flexible asset for mobile network operators and government customers could be highly relevant to Australia, with applications ranging from Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) to connectivity-on-demand (including direct-to-device connectivity), as well as high-resolution imagery and mapping. Zephyr’s applications can be particularly impactful during natural disasters or to monitor impact of climate-related events such as drought, floods, fires and deforestation.

Over the coming months, alongside its engagement with payload providers and partners, the Company will continue engagement with authorities to explore the pathway for operational set-up in Australia.

Hughes Boulnois, Chief Executive Officer at AALTO, said:

“AALTO is at the forefront of Stratospace: a new domain of aerospace that bridges space and ground technology to deliver cutting-edge applications from near space. By kick-starting efforts to create a payload network of homegrown Australian technologies, there is potential to create significant value for commercial and government stakeholders while we explore opportunities for an operational AALTOPORT in-country.

“This year, AALTO will continue its commercial roadmap as it delivers on-station demonstration for our customers while investing in Zephyr’s technology and operational roadmap. At the same time, we anticipate that Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific will be a strategic growth market for AALTO this decade. We look forward to working closely with national innovators such as the Northern Territory Government to begin our next mission: to Unlock Stratospace in Australia.”

Stephen Forshaw, Chief Representative Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific at Airbus, added:

“Airbus is constantly driving innovation in the development of aerospace-related services that help deliver public benefit. As AALTO has been developing this stratospheric operating platform, we have been engaging governments in Australia about how the platform could support a wide range of uses across the region. Vast distances make new solutions like Zephyr attractive, whether they be interoperable with satellites, or, able to provide distinct benefits without the need for a more expensive satellite platform.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity for Australian universities, researchers and innovators to partner with AALTO to develop very specialised payloads that bring the use possibilities for the Zephyr Stratocraft to life. Australia and Australian researchers can play a leading role in the development of this new aerospace domain. For Airbus, this deepens our already multi-billion dollar commitment to Australia, beyond our existing customers across governments, commercial airlines, helicopter operators and the Defence Force, into an entirely new domain.”

The Hon. Robyn Cahill OAM, Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations at the Northern Territory Government, commented:

“The Northern Territory is a dynamic region, and we are fast becoming a globally connected hub for aerospace and defence innovation, playing an increasingly important role in projects of national significance.

“I welcome this news from AALTO, which demonstrates investor confidence in the Territory and recognises our natural strengths in defence, energy and digital partnerships, sectors that deliver jobs and opportunities for Territorians.”

Be the Interface is open to organisations in Australia and New Zealand with proven payload development capabilities. Following reviews of submissions, AALTO will down select companies in March and circulate invitations to the Industry Dialogues during the NTDefence conference.