Australia Minister for Defence Peter Dutton visits Gilmour Space Technologies. Photo: Gilmour Space

Gilmour Space Technologies won a contract from the Australian government to develop and launch a new sovereign surveillance satellite. The company will be developing a prototype G-class satellite for the Australian Department of Defence and launching it on its Eris rocket from an Australian launch site in 2023, Gilmour Space announced Monday.

This is part of as part of the government’s $7 billion Australian dollars ($4.95 billion) investment in new space capabilities, and the contract is worth AU$15 million ($10.5 million).

Gilmour Space is an Australian launch services provider based in Queensland, Australia. The venture-backed company is developing a small satellite launch vehicle Eris and a new G-class satellite bus (G-Sat).

“In line with our recently released Defence Space Strategy, Defence is closely engaged with the Australian Space Agency and Australian industry to develop and supply sovereign space surveillance and mission system capabilities. I am proud to announce this AU$15 million investment in new military space capabilities to counter threats and assure our continued access to space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance,” Australia Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said in a statement.