Sovereign Five Eyes aligned production of the KITE autonomous logistics aircraft moves to Sykes’ composite facility as the company builds toward a 100-unit pipeline.
Kite Aerospace Pty Ltd started production of its KITE uncrewed aerial vehicle on September 14, 2026. The company partners with Sykes Advanced Manufacturing for the build. The announcement came from Geelong and Sydney, Australia. Sykes is the advanced manufacturing division of Jeff Sykes and Associates. Production runs from the Sykes Geelong facility previously operated by Quickstep. The site houses aerospace-grade composite tooling, large-format 3D printing and 5-axis CNC machining under one roof.
Sovereign Five Eyes supply chain
Manufacturing in Australia places KITE production inside a Five Eyes supply chain. Kite Aero keeps intellectual property onshore. The structure gives enterprise and government customers in the United States, Europe and other allied markets procurement assurance.
The KITE is a purpose-built autonomous logistics aircraft. It delivers critical supplies to communities and personnel beyond conventional transport reach. The airframe has logged more than 2,000 flights and 800 hours under Kite Aero ownership. It logged another 11,000 flights and 2,500 hours under previous ownership. Kite Aero fleet-wide operations now exceed 41,000 flights and 20,000 hours. The current pipeline covers more than 100 units.
“Moving the KITE production to Geelong is a decisive step in scaling Kite Aero,” said Philip van der Burg, chief executive of Kite Aero. “Sykes brings nearly 60 years of composite manufacturing discipline and one of the most capable advanced manufacturing facilities in the country. That gives us a scalable sovereign Australian production capability, able to meet capacity as demand in our pipeline grows. Producing locally at rate also means we keep our customers’ aircraft flying, with the responsiveness and high utilisation operators depend on.”
Sykes composite heritage moves to aerospace
Sykes Advanced Manufacturing draws on a rowing heritage. Sykes-built rowing shells earned four Olympic gold medals and more than 30 world championship medals. Sykes applies that composite expertise to aerospace-grade components. The two Geelong facilities provide 6,500 square meters (about 70,000 square feet) of composites capacity. Jeff Sykes and Associates began operations in Geelong in 1966.
“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 and Associates. “Building advanced composite products for the KITE locally, to aerospace standards, is exactly what our Geelong facility was made for and we are excited to demonstrate our extensive composite manufacturing capabilities in this industry.”
AXIOM, Kite Aero’s drone operating system, powers the KITE.
More information is available at Kite Aero.
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Ian McNabb is a journalist focusing on drone technology and lifestyle content at Dronelife. He is based between Boston and NH and, when not writing, enjoys hiking and Boston area sports.
