AALTO Targets Australia for Zephyr’s Next Operating Site, Launching Call to National Payload Industry
•February 16, 2026
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Companies Mentioned
Airbus
Why It Matters
The initiative creates a sovereign high‑altitude platform that can deliver cost‑effective connectivity and surveillance across Australia’s vast terrain, accelerating the country’s Stratospace capabilities and opening new revenue streams for local innovators.
Key Takeaways
- •AALTO selects Darwin region as second Zephyr launch site.
- •Zephyr completed 67‑day continuous stratospheric flight in 2025.
- •AALTO invites Australian payload developers for 2026 NTDefence dialogues.
- •Project aims to boost sovereign communications and ISR capabilities.
- •Partnership leverages Northern Territory’s defence and energy strengths.
Pulse Analysis
The Zephyr Stratocraft represents a breakthrough in high‑altitude platform systems, combining solar power with lightweight construction to sustain weeks‑long missions above 60,000 feet. Its 2025 record of 67 continuous days demonstrated reliable power management and payload integration, positioning it as a viable alternative to satellites for low‑latency data relay. By establishing a second operational hub in Australia, AALTO not only diversifies its geographic footprint but also taps into the Southern Hemisphere’s favorable solar conditions and open airspace.
Australia’s strategic need for resilient communications and real‑time intelligence makes the Zephyr concept especially compelling. The platform can provide on‑demand broadband to remote communities, support disaster‑response coordination, and deliver high‑resolution imagery for environmental monitoring. Partnering with the Northern Territory Government aligns the project with regional defence and energy initiatives, fostering a domestic Stratospace supply chain that reduces reliance on foreign satellite services. This sovereign capability enhances national security while offering commercial operators a flexible, lower‑cost option for persistent coverage.
For the broader aerospace market, AALTO’s move signals a shift toward near‑space solutions that bridge the gap between traditional aircraft and orbital assets. The invitation to Australian payload innovators opens pathways for universities and tech firms to develop specialized sensors, communications modules, and AI‑driven analytics tailored to the stratospheric environment. As Airbus backs the venture, the venture is poised to attract multi‑billion‑dollar investment, accelerate regional R&D, and establish Australia as a hub for next‑generation aerospace services throughout the Asia‑Pacific decade ahead.
AALTO targets Australia for Zephyr’s next operating site, launching call to national payload industry
AALTOPORT in Australia is targeted to be the second launch and landing site for Zephyr, the world’s leading solar‑powered Stratocraft with demonstrated 67 days of continuous flight in the stratosphere
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Australian payloads will help support a home‑grown Stratospace technology ecosystem, while AALTO continues to engage with regulatory authorities for its site‑selection process and to secure regulatory approvals
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Working with the Northern Territory Government, AALTO will host initial bilateral discussions with selected payload companies on commercial and technical opportunities at NTDefence in April 2026
Darwin, Northern Territory – AALTO HAPS Ltd (“AALTO” or “the Company”), 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 ft ≈ 20 km and above: a domain currently not accessed by commercial operators other than weather balloons).
Weighing only 75 kg with a 25 m 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 characteristics. 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 the 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 home‑grown 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.
For further information visit AALTO’s website or contact [email protected].
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