SYDNEY — Australia has axed a multi-billion dollar defense satellite project with U.S. contractor Lockheed Martin, dismaying Australia’s space industry and highlighting budget tensions as the middle power pursues major milit upgrades, including nuclear-powered submarines.
The system, known as JP9102, would have been Australia’s largest-ever space project, with a reported cost of 7 billion Australian dollars ($4.59 billion). The project included two or three milit-grade satellites in geostation orbit (GEO) supported by ground stations and other infrastructure.
