The subsidiary was set up to develop Australian and broader Asia Pacific regions and will be headed by Erik Tyler as managing director. Its opening is timely as the Australian government recently pledged to invest €313 million in space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

Tyler served in the Australian defence force as a communications operator specialist in Australia and abroad. Earlier this year Kleos Space signed an authorization to proceed with GomSpace to deliver the first of 20 satellites in a constellation.

Kleos will launch and operate its first earth observation satellite system in early 2019. Its satellites are designed to gather geolocated radio transmission data. They will be sold for rescue, maritime, security and regulatory intelligence purposes.